THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The UT Dallas men's basketball team wrapped up the calendar year with an 84-72 loss to #5 Tufts at Gilbert Arena in the final game of the Kingsmen Classic Saturday afternoon.

The Comets (6-5) and Jumbos (11-1) exchanged six leads over the first 17:16 of the game with UTD leading 32-30 at the 3:03 mark of the opening period. Tufts answered with a 13-2 run to end the half, then started the second period with the first 11 points to take a 54-34 advantage. The Comets came within nine points with 12:30 left in the game, but the Jumbos maintained a a double-digit game the rest of the way.

UTD shot 40.6 percent (26-for-64) from the field, 7-of-26 from outside and 13-of-19 from the charity stripe. They also recorded 38 rebounds - 16 offensive, 17 assists, 17 turnovers and six steals.

Tufts shot 47.8 percent (33-for-69) overall, 10-for-27 from three-point range and 8-of-12 at the line with 38 boards, 22 assists, 13 turnovers, eight blocks and 10 steals.

UT Dallas Notes
- For the second consecutive game, sophomore center Austin Page recorded a career-high with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting. He also pulled down three rebounds and dished out a career-best three assists.
- Junior guard Nick Donnelly made a trio of three-pointers, en route to 19 points for his eighth double-digit scoring performance. He also grabbed a career-high six rebounds.
- Donovan Souter also hit three three-pointers, scoring 16 points.
- Ethan Van Horn added four points and three rebounds off the bench.
- Freshman forward Jordan Balderaz led the Comets with seven boards.
- Guard Matthew Soto posted season-bests of six rebounds and five assists with a steal.

Tufts Notes
- Five Jumbos were in double-digits with Scott Gymel leading the way with 15 points to go with seven rebounds.
- James Morakis recorded 14 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals.
- Jay Dieterle scored 12 points with four assists and three steals.
- Khai CHampion posted 11 points and three assists off the bench.
- Casey McLaren had 10 points and two blocks.
- Joshua Bernstein blocked three shots to go with six points and four rebounds.

Up Next
UTD will return to American Southwest Conference play on Thursday, January 4 at Concordia Texas in Austin.