LAFAYETTE, La. - The UT Dallas men's basketball team gave Louisiana an early scare before the Ragin' Cajuns won 82-65 at the Cajundome Thursday night.

The Comets and Cajuns (1-1) exchanged leads five times with six ties in the first half. Down 26-22 at the 5:19 mark, UTD went on a 9-0 run sparked by guard Nick Donnelly and Peyton Dulin over the next 1:54 to take a 31-26 advantage. ULL ended the half with an 8-1 run to take a 34-32 lead into the break. The Comets held the lead for 12:09 in the opening period.

The Cajuns led the entire second half, outscoring the Comets 48-33. The home team led by as many as 23 points with 7:56 to play, but UTD cut the deficit to 11 at the 4:36 mark with a 17-5 rally. Dulin scored 11 points with a trio of three-pointers during that run.

For the game, the Comets shot 40.7 percent (22-for-54) overall, 7-of-28 from three-point range and 14-of-22 at the line. They also recorded 36 rebounds, eight assists, 24 turnovers, six blocks and eight steals. Louisiana shot 43.5 percent (27-for-62) from the field, 4-for-21 from outside and 24-of-33 at the free throw line with 41 boards, nine assists, 14 turnovers, two blocks and 16 steals.

UT Dallas Notes
- The contest was an exhibition for the Comets and does not count in the win-loss record or statistically.
- Dulin, a freshman guard, led all players with 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting and 5-of-10 from long range. He also had six rebounds, three steals and a pair of assists.
- Sophomore forward Jordan Balderaz came up with 11 points, four boards, three assists and two steals.
- Donnelly finished with eight points.
- Junior center Austin Page scored seven points with a team-high eight rebounds and four blocked shots.
- Guard AJ Carter recorded five points and five rebounds.
- Sophomore Matthew Soto scored six points, going 4-for-4 at the line, off the bench.

Louisiana Notes
- The Ragin' Cajuns are a NCAA Division I member of the Sun Belt Conference and won 19 games last season.
- Koron Davis led ULL with 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting to go with five rebounds off the bench.
- Mostapha El Moutaouakkil had 16 points, four boards and a pair of steals.
- Kentrell Garnett had 11 points and three steals.
- Kyndall Davis led the Cajuns with four assists.

Up Next
The Comets will open the regular season with UNT Dallas at home on Saturday at 2 p.m.

 

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