RICHARDSON, Texas - The UT Dallas men's basketball team ended fall break week with an 85-69 victory over Southwestern (Texas) at the UTD Activity Center Saturday afternoon.

The visiting Pirates (0-7) scored on the first possession of the game. The Comets (3-2) answered with a three-pointer at the 19:00 minute mark of the first half by senior guard Donovan Souter and held on the lead for the final 39 minutes of the contest. UTD took a 44-28 advantage into halftime.

The Comets extended their lead to 64-41 with 13:11 remaining, but Southwestern went on an 18-4 run over the next seven minutes, cutting the deficit to 68-59. Freshman forward Jordan Balderaz hit a pair of free throws on the next play and UTD held on to a double-digit lead the rest away before finishing with the 16-point victory.

UT Dallas shot 43.1 percent overall (31-of-72), 11-of-33 from three-point range and 12-of-15 at the free throw line. They also recorded 45 rebounds, 19 offensive, 23 assists, nine turnovers, five blocks and 10 steals. The Pirates shot 46 percent (23-of-50) from the field, 5-of-17 from outside and 18-of-26 at the line with 28 boards, 20 assists, 14 turnovers, four blocks and three steals.

UT Dallas Notes
- The Comets have outrebounded their opponents in all five games this season and have an average margin of +8.
- UTD had a season-best in three-pointers made, three-pointers attempted, free throw percentage, assists, points and fewest turnovers.
- Souter scored 29 points and went 7-of-16 from three-point range, tying the school record in attempts in a game. He also recorded four assists and a pair of steals.
- Junior guard Luke Kiser had 14 points, six rebounds, seven assists, three steals and a blocked shot.
- Balderaz finished with nine points and eight rebounds.
- Freshman Franklin Onyeme had a season-best nine points, going 3-for-3 at the line, and had three rebounds, a block and two steals.
- Ryan Nurenberg hit a pair of three-pointers for six points.
- Sophomore Ethan Van Horn led the Comets with nine rebounds and scored four points.
- Matthew Soto and Nick Donnelly each dished out three assists.
- Freshman AJ Carter made his collegiate debut, scoring two points with a rebound.

Southwestern Notes
- The Pirates shot 54 percent (13-of-24) in the second half.
- Brock Luechtefeld led SU with 20 points and six rebounds. He was 8-of-14 shooting.
- Jacob Hester had 10 points and a pair of three-pointers.
- Luke Hatcher scored nine points and blocked a pair of shots.
- Sebastian Loder added eight points off the bench.
- Gio Gutierrez dished out five assists.
- Luke Mills had seven points, six rebounds and a block.

Up Next
The Comets open American Southwest Conference play at Howard Payne in Brownwood, Texas on Thursday, November 30.