BELTON, TX (02.24.22) - The UT Dallas men's basketball team will be making its return to the ASC Final Four after the Comets held on for a 71-68 over East Texas Baptist Thursday night in the league's tournament opening round, hosted by Mary Hardin-Baylor at the Mayborn Campus Center.

ASC TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
POST-GAME INTERVIEW WITH HEAD COACH TERRY BUTTERFIELD

Leading by nine points at the break, the No. 4-seeded Comets (16-8) had to hold off a pair of second-half charges by fifth-seeded ETBU to earn their fifth trip to the ASC semifinals in six seasons. UTD will next play at 7:30 p.m. Friday against ASC regular-season champion and No. 7-ranked UMHB.

The Comets held a 42-33 advantage over ETBU after the opening 20 minutes of the game, shooting 50 percent (15-of-30) from the field before halftime. UTD was 4-for-9 from three-point range in the first half and out-rebounded the Tigers, 24-15, to snag the near double-digit cushion.

ETBU (14-12) made its first surge midway through the second half, clawing within a single point, 50-49, capping a 7-0 run with 10:55 left in the contest. The Comets responded, however, with a Nick Donnelly jumper and a breakaway dunk by Kameron Pruitt to regain a five-point cushion, 54-49, with 8:27 remaining.

The Comets extended their lead back to seven points after the final media timeout before ETBU made its final charge. The Tigers again climbed within a single possession with 1:39 on the clock after a three-point play by Aaron Gregg cut the UTD lead back to one point, 66-65. The Comets answered with two free shots by James Curtis before ETBU knotted the game, 68-68, with 52 seconds remaining.

Pruitt drained the first of two free throws on the Comets' next possession, which was quickly followed by an ETBU offensive foul. Curtis connected on two more free throws with 14 seconds to push the UTD lead back to three points. The Tigers had a shot to force the game into overtime, but Gregg's three-pointer with two seconds remaining was off target.

Kolton Pruitt led four Comets in double figures with 14 points on 6-of-13 shooting. Curtis and Caden McKenzie each added 13 points while Kameron Pruitt had 11 points. Curtis led the Comets with nine rebounds while Donnelly and Luke Kiser each dished out a team-best three assists.

After four straight trips to the ASC semifinals, the Comets missed out from the Final Four last season with an opening round loss. UTD is making 19th consecutive trip to the league tournament, winning the title in 2005, 2009, 2014 and 2019.