DENVER - The UT Dallas men's basketball team lost the final game of the South Central Regional Challenge to host Regis (Colo.) 81-79 at Regis Fieldhouse Saturday night.
The Comets (1-1) held a 74-65 advantage with 4:50 left after a three-pointer from Will Warren, but the Rangers (1-1) closed the game on a 16-5 run to escape with the victory.
UTD led for more than 22 minutes and carried an eight-point advantage midway through the opening half before taking a 42-43 deficit into the locker room. A late three-pointer from Tyson Heard gave the Comets a brief 42-41 lead with 53 seconds remaining in the first half before Regis regained the advantage at the break.
In the second half, UTD used an 11-0 run to turn a 56-52 deficit into a 63-56 lead. Consecutive baskets by Bryce Potts, a driving layup from Heard and another score by Potts highlighted the surge.
The Comets later stretched the margin to nine points at 74-65 on Will Warren's three-pointer with 4:50 to play. The Rangers answered by scoring 12 of the next 15 points, eventually tying the game at 77-77 with 1:03 remaining.
After both teams came up empty on possessions inside the final minute, Regis secured an offensive rebound following a missed layup and Drake Walker buried a three-pointer from the wing with three seconds left to put the Rangers ahead 80-77. Jordan Balderaz knocked down two free throws with two seconds remaining to cut the margin to one, but Regis sealed the outcome with a free throw by Bryce Bennett in the closing second.
UTD shot 41.7 percent (27-for-59) overall, 15-of-35 from outside and 10-of-24 at the line with 30 rebounds, 18 assists, eight turnovers, five steals and two blocks.
The Rangers shot 51.0 percent (26-of-51) from the field, 10-of-22 from three-point range and 19-of-25 at the charity stripe with 37 boards, 19 assists, 15 turnovers and two steals.
UT Dallas Notes
- Balderaz paced the Comets with 14 points and grabbed five rebounds.
- Sophomore forward Jacob Smithey was 4-for-6 shooting for 13 points to go with two steals.
- Heard finished with 12 points, five rebounds and three assists.
- Zach Spitzer recorded 12 points, two blocks and eight rebounds.
- Warren was also in double-digits with 10 points and two steals.
- CJ Booker dished out nine assists and scored nine points.
- Potts went 4-for-5 from the field and scored nine.
Regis Notes
- Walker led the Rangers with 22 points, going 6-for-9 from outside. He also dished out four assists.
- Bennett went 11-of-14 at the line en route to 18 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
- Meto Orji recorded 10 points.
- Logan Boyer added eight points and four assists.
Up Next
The Comets will travel to Ada, Okla. for a 6 p.m. game against East Central on Tuesday.
