RICHARDSON, Texas - The UT Dallas men's basketball team earned a 73-57 victory over Howard Payne in their American Southwest Conference home opener at the UTD Activity Center Thursday evening.

The Comets (5-2, 2-0 ASC) held a slim 27-24 advantage at the half and gave up a 35-34 lead to the Yellow Jackets (2-4, 0-1 ASC) at 15:51 in the second period. UTD answered with 13-1 run over the next 4:14 to take control of the game at 47-36. They would expand the lead to as many as 20 points late in the half.

For the game, the Comets shot 40 percent (24-of-60) from the floor, 10-for-23 from outside and 15-for-19 at the free throw line. They also had 43 rebounds, 18 assists, five blocks, 10 steals and 18 turnovers.

HPU shot 35.6 percent (21-for-59) overall, 3-for-18 from three-point territory and 12-for-25 at the stripe to go with 38 boards, 11 assists, three blocks, eight steals and 19 turnovers.

UT Dallas Notes
- Guard Kyle Poerschke led the Comets with 14 points, eight rebounds and two blocks.
- Senior guard Hunter Stevens tied his season-high with 12 points and dished out five assists.
- Caden McKenzie also scored a season-best 12 points in his first career start. 
- James Curtis, Luke Kiser and Devin Vincent each added six points.
- Senior center Will Isaac had four points and two blocks with a season-high eight rebounds.
- Sophomore forward Rob Wade added four points and six boards off the bench.

Howard Payne Notes
- Harold Myart led the Yellow Jackets with 13 points and grabbed five rebounds.
- Miles Koehler had 12 points and five boards.
- Myles Brown recorded five points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals.
- Jerren Godfrey scored 11 points with a pair of steals off the bench.

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Up Next
UT Dallas will battle Sul Ross State in ASC play at 3 p.m. Saturday.