SEGUIN, Texas - The UT Dallas men's basketball team picked up its first victory of the 2023-24 season and the first with new head coach Jared Fleming at the helm, defeating Texas Lutheran 75-66 at Memorial Gym Thursday night.

The Comets (1-1) were led by senior guard Donovan Souter's career-high 31 points. He was 12-of-19 shooting from the field and 7-of-11 from three-point range.

UTD led 15-9 six minutes into the contest but the host Bulldogs (1-3) went on 21-6 run over the next nine minutes to lead 30-21. TLU had a 41-35 advantage going into the break.

Trailing 48-45 with 14:11 in the game, the Comets went on a six-minute, 22-6 rally to take control of the game with a 13-point lead. The visitors maintained a double-digit lead until the last shot of the game.

UT Dallas shot 45.5 percent (25-for-55) from the field, 9-of-23 from three-point territory and 16-of-22 at the free throw line. They also recorded 37 rebounds, 14 assists, 17 turnovers, three blocks and eight steals.

TLU shot 33.9 percent (20-for-59) overall, 5-of-20 from outside and 21-of-25 at the line with 35 rebounds, 11 assists, 15 turnovers, one block and seven steals.

UT Dallas Notes
- Fleming is the third head coach in program history after a playing career and spending time as an assistant coach.
- Souter also had four rebounds and a pair of steals to go with his 31 points - the second 30-point performance of his career.
- Junior guard Luke Kiser was one-point off his career-best with 16 points while grabbing seven rebounds, dishing out three assists and recording two steals.
- Nick Donnelly recorded 12 points and went 6-for-6 at the free throw line. He also recorded career-highs with five assists and four steals.
- Matthew Soto hit a pair of three-pointers and was 3-for-3 at the line en route to nine points.
- Freshman forward Franklin Onyeme grabbed five rebounds and blocked two shots.
- Junior center Tyler Stephenson also blocked a shot.
- Freshman Ben Markovic made his collegiate debut and became the 200th men's basketball player in UTD history.
- UTD is now 10-4 all-time against the TLU.

Texas Lutheran Notes
- Xavier Phillips paced the Bulldogs with 17 points and five rebounds.
- Mason Wallace had 13 points and three steals off the bench.
- LaDarius King also scored 13 points and hit a pair of three-pointers with four rebounds.
- DJ Ardoin added seven points and two steals.
- Easton Allen, Isaac Orozco and Christopher Jarrett each recorded two assists.

Up Next
The Comets will continue their road trip at St. Thomas (Texas) in Houston on Saturday at 1 p.m.