ABILENE, Texas - A short-range jumper from senior guard Donovan Souter as time ran out propelled the UT Dallas men's basketball team to a 78-77 victory over Mary Hardin-Baylor in the American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament Finals at the Mabee Complex Saturday night.

The Comets (18-9) captured the fifth ASC title in program history, joining the 2005, 2009, 2014 and 2019 squads. They also gain the league's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament, UTD's eighth appearance in program history. 

UTD built an 11-point lead late in the first half, but the Cru (17-10) managed to cut it down to 37-33 entering the break. The squads stayed close to each other in the second period, but a pair of free throws from ASC's all-time leading scorer Josiah Johnson gave UMHB a 77-71 advantage with 17 seconds left.

The Comets answered with a three-pointer by junior guard Nick Donnelly, then the Cru turned it over. A lay-up by junior guard Luke Kiser with nine seconds remaining made the game 77-76. UMHB's Josh Goings missed the front end of a 1-and-1 free throw attempt with Austin Page grabbing the rebound.

Coming out of a timeout with 6.5 seconds left, Kiser drove down the length of the floor and dished off to Souter who made a five-foot jumper as time expired.

Souter was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player while Kiser and Page were selected to the All-Tournament Team.

For the game, the Comets shot 45.9 percent (31-for-68) from the field, 11-for-35 from three-point range and 5-for-9 at the line. They also recorded 38 rebounds, 19 assists, 14 turnovers, five blocks and eight steals.

The Cru shot 49.2 percent (30-for-61) overall, 10-for-23 from outside and 7-for-9 at the free throw line with 34 boards, 15 assists, 14 turnovers, four blocks and eight steals.

UT Dallas Notes
- Jared Fleming has now won an ASC title at UTD as a player, assistant coach and head coach.
- Souter finished with 25 points, draining five three-pointers. He broke Martin Salinas' 17-year old school record for three-pointers made in a season with 93. 
- Page recorded 14 points and a career-high 10 rebounds for his first double-double. He also had four assists and three blocked shots.
- Junior guard Thibaut Tagnon scored a season-best 13 points, making a trio of three-pointers.
- Donnelly also hit three treys, en route to 11 points.
- Kiser posted six points, seven rebounds, 10 assists and six steals. He moved into third in school history with 156 assists this season.
- Forward Jordan Balderaz scored six points and grabbed three offensive rebounds.
- Junior forward Rob Wade pulled down six boards, four offensive.

Mary Hardin-Baylor Notes
- Johnson finished his career with a 25-point, eight-rebound, five-assist performance.
- Eli Beard shot 10-for-20 and 4-for-6 from outside for 24 points while grabbing six rebounds.
- Goings recorded 10 points, five rebounds and three assists.

Up Next
The Comets will await their tournament destination with the NCAA Selection Show at noon CT Monday.

 

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