University of Texas at Dallas Athletics

03.03.08
Trio of Comets Named to All-East Teams
Lowery, Eppink and Witten Honored on ASC All-Division Teams

RICHARDSON, TX - Three members of the UTD men's basketball team won American Southwest Conference All-East Division honors following the 2007-08 season.
Junior Ernie Lowery was a second-team All-East Division selection while sophomore Jordan Eppink won honorable mention honors. Freshman Jimmy Witten was named a member of the five-player All-East Division Freshman Team.
Lowery, a junior from Houston (Klein Collins HS) led the Comets in scoring this season, averaging 13.3 points per game and was the team assist leader with 62.
Eppink, a sophomore from Spring (Spring HS), finished the season averaging 7.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Witten, a freshman from Houston (Clear Lake HS) averaged 8.7 points and a team-best 6.3 rebounds per game.


02.29.08
Concordia Charge Eliminates Comets In ASC Tournament Quarterfinals, 89-78
Free Throws, Three-Point Shooting Difference In Turnaround

BELTON, TX - For the third consecutive season after winning the 2005 American Southwest Conference Championship, the UT Dallas men's basketball season saw its season come to a sudden end in the opening game of the 2008 tournament.
UTD saw a 37-29 halftime lead quickly evaporate and turn into a disappointing 89-78 loss to Concordia-Texas as the Tornadoes nailed five big second-half 3-point shots and went 23-of-29 at the foul line after halftime.
The Comets' season ended at 17-9 while Concordia (18-8) advanced to the semifinals to meet Howard Payne University, a 94-90 overtime upset winner over East Division top seed Mississippi College. In the other quarterfinal matchups, Hardin-Simmons knocked out UT-Tyler 65-55 while host Mary Hardin-Baylor eliminated East Texas Baptist, 66-50.
The Comets felt good in their quarterfinal game after finishing off the first half of their game with Concordia with a big 23-7 run. UTD trailed CTX, 22-14, 10:25 into the game, but got inside baskes from Jordan Eppink and Jimmy Witten and a Brandon Greene 3-pointer to cut it to 22-21 with 7:39 to go before intermission. Greene, who had 8 first-half points, then nailed another three followed by a jumper to give the Comets their first lead (28-27) with 5:01 remaining. Concordia hit just one more shot in the final 5:01 of the half as UTD stretched out its lead.
UTD kept its run going - though only temporarily - in the second period as Greene and Ernie Lowery both scored in the first minute of the second half to put UTD up 41-31 at 19:15. But the Comets wouldn't score again for almost three minutes as the Tornadoes closed the gap and tied the game back up at 43-43 with 16:03 remaining. After going back and forth, the game was tied for the eighth and final time at 56-56 (8:29), but CTX answered quickly with one of its five second-half threes and had the lead stretched out to seven (65-58) two minutes later.
While the Tornados were putting up 23 points at the foul line, UTD continually missed opportunities to tighten up the game with missed free throws and three-point attempts. UTD was 5-of-11 at the line in the second period and 0-for-13 from beyond the arch. The Tornadoes outscored UTD, 60-41, in the second period.
The Comets, who do not lose a single senior player, were led by junior Ernie Lowery's 21 points, 12 of those in the second half. Freshman Jimmy Witten had 14 points and 10 rebounds while Greene ended with a 12-point afternoon, scoring just four in the second half. The Comets also lost the battle of the boards, as CTX outrebounded UTD, 52-39.


02.07.08
Baker, Lowery Voted Academic All-District
Top UTD Basketball Players Also Among Region's Best In Classroom

RICHARDSON, TX - Two of the top University of Texas at Dallas basketball players have been selected as members of the prestigious CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America)/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District team - the precursor to the national Academic All-America® award.
Senior Ericka Baker and junior Ernie Lowery – both among the top players on the Comets women's and men's basketball teams – were selected from a field of over 30 College Division candidates in CoSIDA's District 6, which includes NCAA Division II/III and NAIA universities in
Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Mississippi. Only five players are selected for each of a first , second and third team in each district by the vote of CoSIDA members in the district.
Baker was selected as one of the five first-team All-District honorees out of District 6 and will advance to the ballot for the prestigious Academic All-America® team. Lowery was selected as a District 6 College Division second-team member, finishing in the top 10 in the district.
Baker, a senior from Copperas Cove, TX, is a team captain and among the statistical leaders for the 11-9 UTD women's basketball team, averaging 12.6 points and a team-best 5.9 rebounds per game. A psychology major in her third year with the team, she has maintained a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.70.
Lowery, a junior from Houston, TX, is also among the top players on the 14-6 UTD men's basketball team. He leads the team with a 13.9-point per game average and 48 assists through the first 20 games. Lowery is an accounting and information management major and has a cumulative GPA of 3.78.
To be nominated for the honor, student-athletes must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 in their academic pursuits, as well as be significant contributors to their team athletically.


02.23.08
Comets Finish Schedule With Win at LC;
Heading To 5th Straight ASC Tournament
UTD Will Face West No. 2 Seed Concordia In Opening Round

CLINTON, MS / PINEVILLE, LA - The UTD men's basketball team is heading to its fiftth consecutive American Southwest Conference Championship Tournaement on a winning note after finishing its regular season Saturday with a 67-50 road win at Louisiana College.
UTD (17-8, 13-7), which will be the ASC East Division's No. 3 seed, lost any chance of moving up in the seeding Thursday with a 61-50 loss at division champion Mississippi College. The Comets will now face West No. 2 seed Concordia-Texas in the opening round of the tournament Friday at 2 pm. The tournament is being held at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor's Mayborn Campus Center.
MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE 61, UTD 50
After a tight game throughout the first 30 minutes, the Comets again went cold at the least opportune moment, scoring just nine points in the final 9:06 of the game. UTD jumped out to an early 13-6 lead on the Choctaws, who have now won five straight ASC East Division championships and the last two ASC titles. Mississippi College answered wiht a 24-16 run to end the first half with a 30-29 lead. The game stayed close throught the first part of the second period, but the Choctaws then went on an 11-1 run over a six-minute stretch that ended with a 55-42 lead and only 3:45 left on the clock. The Comets did manage a pair of three-pointers from Scott Rodgers and Jared Fleming in the final minutes, but it was not enough.
Jordan Eppink was the only Comet to finish in double figures with 11 points.
UTD 67, LOUISIANA COLLEGE 50
The Comets bounced back in the regular season finale and easily handled the East Division's No. 4 seed for the second time this season. UTD never trailed after scoring the first six points of the game. The Comets led by as many as 16 points in the first half before taking a 43-32 lead into the dressing room. LC was able to cut the lead to six points (56-49) at the 9:12 mark in the second half, but UTD finished on an 11- 1 run, holding LC to a single free throw in the remainder of the game.
Ernie Lowery topped the Comets with 15 points, but the biggest game came from freshman Jimmy Witten, who had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.


02.16.08
Comets Jockey For Higher Seed In
5th Straight Trip to ASC Tournament
Comets Bounce Back From Loss at ETBU To Topple LeTourneau, 66-44

LONGVIEW/RICHARDSON, TX - The UTD men's basketball team fell into a second-place tie with UT-Tyler Thursday after a disappointing 67-57 road loss to East Texas Baptist; but bounced back with a dominating 66-44 win over LeTourneau in the home finale Saturday to keep pace for one of the top two seeds in the upcoming American Southwest Conference Tournament (Feb. 29-March 1-2).
The Comets (16-7, 12-6), who will make their fifth straight trip to the ASC Tournament, wrap up their regular season with two important road games Thursday at division-leading Mississippi College and Saturday at Louisiana College. UT-Tyler, which has an identical 12-6 record, faces road challenges against the same two teams.
ETBU 67, UTD 57
The Comets let a tight game and a five-point halftime lead get away from them when they fell victim to a nine-minute scoreless spell in the second half of their game with the Tigers. After UTD turned a 27-22 halftime lead into a 32-34 advantage 1:30 minutes into the second half, ETBU went on a 22-0 run which ended when the Comets finally connected on another shot at the 9:14 mark. By then, UTD trailed 48-34.
The Comets did cut the lead down to four (59-55) with a three-point shot from Scott Rodgers with 1:42 remaining, but only hit one more shot the rest of the way as ETBU put the game away with rebounds and free throws. Lowery was the only Comet to finish in double figures with a 16-point night as UTD hit just 33.3 percent for the game and missed on 21 of 28 three-point attempts.
UTD 66, LETU 44
The Comets jumped out to an early 19-6 start, then broke out from a 34-21 halftime advantage to build as much as a 24-point second-half lead. The YellowJackets got UTD's lead down to 13 (53-40) at the 6:42 mark, but the Comets closed LETU down with a 13-4 finish.
Brandon Greene sparked the Comets throughout, hitting early threes and continuing to build on a 24-point game. Guard Temaine Wright was the only other Comet in double figures with 13, but the Comets held LETU to just 25.9 percent shooting in the game (23.1 percent in the second half) and forced 19 turnovers.


02.09.08
Comets Close In On Playoff Spot With Win
UTD Gets Big Lead, Holds Off 2nd Half Charge In 88-74 Victory

CLARKSVILLE, AR - The UTD men's basketball team built a 20-point first-half lead, then withstood a barrage of three-pointers from the University of the Ozarks in the second half to hold off the Eagles for an 88-74 American Southwest Conference win Saturday afternoon.
Brandon Greene lit up the Eagles of 27 points, which include four three-point shots; but the Eagles countered with seven 3-point shots in mounting a second-half comeback attempt that UTD finally squelched.
With the win, UTD improved to 15-6, 11-5 on the season and remained firmly in second place in the ASC East Division, one game behind Mississippi College and one game ahead of UT-Tyler. The Comets have just four regular season games remaining, including a showdown with Mississippi College in two weeks. One more win in those final games should insure the Comets of a fifth straight post-season berth in the ASC Championship Tournament at the end of the month.
The Comets again took advantage of a hot start against Ozarks, racing out to a 43-23 halftime lead. The Eagles didn't break the 10-point barrier until the 7:14 mark of the first half. (In a matchup at home last weekend, UTD led 36-15 over Ozarks at the half).
The second-half story was a bit different, though, as the Eagles came out firing after intermission. The Eagles opened the half with a 24-9 run behind five 3-pointers to cut UTD's lead down to four (51-47) with 12:29 remaining. But the Comets, sparked by a Greene 3-pointer, answered to get the lead back up to 15 points (67-53) four minutes later. Despite a determined effort from the Eagles in the final eight minutes, UTD never let Ozarks any closer than nine points.
In addition to Greene, UTD had Ernie Lowery (14 pts), Temaine Wright (13 pts) and Charles Harris (12 pts) finish in double figures. Though the Comets gave up 57.1 percent shooting in the second half, UTD answered with 55.6 percent of its own, and got 20 points at the free-throw line, thanks to 23 Ozarks fouls.


02.04.08
Comets See Brief Stay At Top Slip Away
Big Win Over Ozarks Puts UTD In First Place Until Team Falls at Tyler

RICHARDSON/TYLER, TX - The UTD men's basketball team enjoyed a brief two-day stay tied at the top of the American Southwest Conference East Division standings after a convincing 74-51 win over the University of the Ozarks on Saturday.
A narrow 63-58 road loss to UT-Tyler Monday night ended that moment in the sun, dropping the Comets (14-6, 10-5) to a half-game out of the lead with just five regular season games left.
UTD must finish as one of the top four teams in the division to qualify for its fifth straight ASC Championship Tournament berth.
Junior Ernie Lowery led the Comets in scoring in both weekend games, combining for 35 points.
UTD 74, UNIV. OF THE OZARKS 51
The Comets bounced back from one of its worst losses of the season six days earlier to run away from the Eagles Saturday in a 74-51 win. The Comets got 17 points and six rebounds from Lowery, but had balanced contributions up and down the lineup as 12 different players scored. UTD hit seven three-pointers, including three from Brandon Greene and held the Eagles to just just 29.4 percent shooting
The Comets jumped out to a huge 24-6 lead to open the game, and never let Ozarks get any closer than 16 points in the second half. UTD held the Eagles to 29.4 percent shooting and forced 19 turnovers.
UT-TYLER 63, UTD 58
The rematch of the 40-point loss to UT-Tyler a week earlier went better than the first go-around, but not well enough fo the Comets to hang on to take over the division lead with a victory. UTD held an early 13-12 lead in a low-scoring affair, but UTT finished up the first half with a 15-5 run to go up 27-18. In the second half, the Patriots again went on a tear and upped their advantage to 43-28 before a four-minute scoring lull allowed UTD back in the game.
With 4:33 left, the Comets were withing seven at 48-41, but UTT finally got rolling again and didn't let UTD back in the game. In a desperation move with :20 left, UTD cut five points off the Tyler lead, but it was too little, too late.
Lowery topped the Comets with 18 points while Temaine Wright added 10, but the Comets gave up 10 points in a close game at the free-throw line, where they hit just three of 13 attempts. UTD had five three-point baskets, but gave up seven to the Patriots.


01.28.08
Everything Goes South In 40-Pt. Loss
UT-Tyler Comes Out Smokin', Leaves Comets Behind in 87-47 Win

RICHARDSON, TX - The UTD men's basketball team flirted with history Monday night, but it was not the kind of recognition in the record book it was hoping for.
Faced with an opportunity to stay just one game back in the battle for the American Southwest Conference East Division lead with a win, the Comets came up empty in every facet of the game to fall in a humbling 87-47 loss to UT-Tyler.
The Comets were behind from the outset, scoring just six points in the first 12 minutes of the game and were down 37-17 at the half. In the first period, UTD shot just 32 percent while allowing the Patriots seemingly could not miss a shot. After a brief spurt to open the second half, things went south quickly again after UTD got within 17 (41-24 at 18:04). Within 10 minutes, the Patriots had stretched the lead out to 66-33 with a 25-9 run, then finally called off the dogs with an 83-39 lead with 2:53 on the clock.
A three-point shot by freshman Sean Poe with 1:50 left that got UTD to 42 points was all that kept UTD from setting a new team record in scoring humility (the prior record for fewest points scored was 41 pts. in a 83-41 loss to Incarnate Word in 1999).
Jimmy Witten was the only Comet to finish in double figures with 12 points. He also had eight rebounds. The Comets gave up a 39-30 disadvantage in rebounding, commited 15 turnovers and and allowed the Patriots to score 50 of their 87 points in the paint.
UT-Tyler had entered the game with a 7-10 overall record and were only 6-6 in the ASC, but four of UTT's ASC losses had been by five points or less.


01.26.08
Comets Win Nailbiters To Stay In Race
UTD Edges LeTourneau, ETBU To Keep Pace With Mississippi College

RICHARDSON, TX - The UTD men's basketball team dodged a couple of bullets, and hung on for a pair of victories this weekend that kept the Comets within a game of the American Southwest Conference East Division lead.
UTD slipped past LeTourneau, 66-63, Thursday night; then gave up a good-sized lead before taking ETBU in overtime, 75-70, on Saturday.
Scott Rodgers had a 30 point weekend, leading the Comets with 18 points against ETBU, and hitting a big three-pointer in overtime.
UTD, which improved to 13-4 and 9-3 in converence to stay one game behind East leader Mississippi College, hosts UT-Tyler Monday night.
UTD 66, LeTOURNEAU 63
The Comets made things as difficult on themselves as possible in the road win over LeTourneau. UTD shot just 37.7 percent (23-of-61) from the field, turned the ball over 18 times and failed to convert on at least two easy possessions late in the game that could have put the game out of reach. UTD did, however, get 13 points from Temaine Wright, including seven at the free-throw line. Four of his foul shots came in the game's final :18 and helped ice the win for UTD.
The Comets held a four-point, 61-57 lead inside of a minute and broke the LETU full-court press twice, seemingly on the way to an easy layup. Rodgers' first attempt, though, was blocked at the rim; then seconds later Jordan Eppink missed a point-blank layup that could have stretched the lead again. But the YellowJackets came up empty themselves, misfiring on several late game-tying attempts and were forced to send Wright to the line where he finally put the game away.
UTD 75, EAST TEXAS BAPTIST 70 (OT)
UTD's luck held firm Saturday, as well; but this time it was the opponent which missed a point-blank shot that could have won the game with seconds left. With the score tied at 63-63 in regulation and ETBU with the ball, the Tigers (6-11, 6-6) fired up a three-point attempt with :02 left. ETBU's Josh Chambers grabbed the rebound at the glass and had an easy tip-in that would have been the deciding basket, but the ball bounced over the rim.
UTD then grabbed the lead for good in overtime when Rodgers nailed a three to put UTD up 68-66. After the score was tied again, Brandon Greene followed with another three and a key defensive rebound from Rodgers with 1:22 left. ETBU trimmed the lead to one (71-70), but had to send Ernie Lowery and Paul Chapinduka to the line, where they nailed four free throws in the final :12 to clinch the win.
The Comets had raced out to an early lead of as many as 14 points, but led just 33-25 at halftime. ETBU battled back and took its first lead with 1:58 left in regulation, then was up 63-60 with 1:07 remaining. Greene hit a clutch three with :31 remaining before the Tigers missed the potential game-winner as time expired.


01.19.08
Comets Miss Chance To Take East Lead
UTD Drops Heartbreaker to MC; Rebounds With Big Win Over Wildcats

RICHARDSON, TX - The UTD men's team doesn't get a chance very often to knock off perennial American Southwest Conference East Division power Mississippi College; and they missed a big opportunity to do just that Thursday night.
UTD dropped the early showdown for first place in the East race, falling 62-58 to the Choctaws; but rallied for a big 81-62 win over Louisiana College Saturday to stay just one game behind in the race.
The Comets (11-4, 7-3) used balanced scoring throughout the weekend and only wing Brandon Greene scored in double figures each game, finishing the weekend with 27 points and 10 rebounds.
MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE 62, UTD 58
UTD came up short in a showdown for the early lead in the ASC East Division with longtime power Mississippi College; but the Comets could really only blame themselves for letting this one get away. UTD was shutout for the first seven minutes of the game and fell behind 14-0 before eventually tying the game up and taking the lead. Then, the Comets went cold at the least opportune time, failing to score another basket after holding a 58-54 lead with 2:59 left in the game. A minute later, the Choctaws tied the score and then outdueled UTD down the stretch for the win.
Both teams had entered the game with a 6-2 ASC record in the East Division opener for both teams. Rodgers came to life in the second half, scoring all 12 of his points to get UTD back into the game. Brandon Greene led UTD with 14 points and seven rebounds while Jordan Eppink added 13 points. UTD, which had shot just 31.0 percent in the first half, caught fire in the second period, hitting 14-of-25 (56.0 percent).
UTD 81, LOUISIANA COLLEGE 62
The Comets bounced back from the Thursday disappointment with a fast start Saturday, running out to a 36-25 halftime lead over Louisiana College, which had played well against UT-Tyler earlier in the week. UTD made things even worse for the visitors in the second period, hitting 50 percent from the field, including four three-pointers to pull out to an even bigger lead. The Comets were ahead by as many as 24 points (75-51 at 2:58) before both teams emptied the benches. UTD used the trio of Greene, Temaine Wright (15 pts) and Ernie Lowery (13 pts) to pace the offense while forcing 24 LC turnovers on defense.


01.12.08
Comets Finish Off ASC West On a Roll
UTD Tied For ASC East Lead After Running Past HSU, McMurry

RICHARDSON, TX - The UTD men's team opens American Southwest Conference East Division play at home this week against perennial powerhouse Mississippi College, but won't be going into the game chasing the Choctaws from behind.
UTD finished up its eight-game swing through the ASC West Division with a 6-2 record - the same as Mississippi College - after running away from both Hardin-Simmons, 61-47, Thursday night; then McMurry, 86-68, Saturday afternoon in their final two games against the West Division. The two wins runs UTD's current win streak to five games, and improves the Comets' overall record to 10-3.
UTD will have a chance to take over the early East Division lead Thursday when Mississippi College comes to the UTD Activity Center. The Comets have not defeated the Choctaws since the championship game of the 2005 ASC Tournament.
Sixth man Scott Rodgers provided a spark in both games, combining for a 26-point weekend while Ernie Lowery finished with 23 points in the two games.
UTD 61, HARDIN-SIMMONS 47
The Comets blew a close game against HSU wide open with a 35-24 second half, which included five three-point shots. Neither team shot particularly well in the first period, but the Comets took a 26-23 lead into the dressing room. The game was still tight (28-27) three minutes into the second half before UTD erupted for a 16-3 run that put it in control at 44-30 with 8:16 on the clock. HSU never got closer than 12 points in the second half, shooting just 32.0 percent after the break.
The game did see HSU center Marchodie Jean break the ASC career rebounding record with five boards, but the two teams finished even at 35 rebounds apiece as Jordan Eppink finished with 12. UTD also forced the Cowboys into 27 turnovers.
UTD 86, McMURRY 68
The Comets put the outcome of this game on ice early, racing out to a 21-5 lead in the first 7:25 of the game, then never letting McMurry get any closer than 14 points before taking a 46-30 lead into the locker room. In the second half, UTD again took control and went up by 24 points (67-43 at 11:58) by starting the second half on a 21-13 run. McMurry's closest challenge came at 6:42, when a Curtis Davis 3-point shot cut the lead down to 69-56.
UTD shot 62.1 percent from the field in the first half and finished with nine 3-point shots (hitting 6-of-12 in the first period). The Comets were able to outrebound the seemingly more physical McMurry team, 40-34; and overcame a poor day at the free throw line (15-31 shooting). UTD finished with five players in double figures, paced by Temaine Wright and Jimmy Witten , who also pulled down 10 rebounds and had six assists.
The win served as revenge for McMurry's victory over the Comets last year in the opening round of the ASC Championship Tournament.


01.05.08
Comets Remain Perfect Road Warriors
UTD Back In ASC Win Column With Road Wins at HPU, Sul Ross

BROWNWOOD/ALPINE, TX - The UTD men's basketball team broke a two-game American Southwest Conference losing streak by winning a pair of close games on the road.
UTD (8-3, 4-2) used clutch finishes in both games, opening up an 81-75 win over Howard Payne and a 67-59 victory over Sul Ross State in the final minutes at the free throw line. UTD finished off HPU by hitting six of eight foul shots in the final :28, then scored nine of its last 12 points at the line in the final 2:35 at Sul Ross.
Scott Rodgers had a pair of clutch games off the bench, scoring 15 and 13 points. Guard Temaine Wright , who hit critical shots down the line against HPU, finished in double figures in each game, as well; while Ernie Lowery had a pair of 14-point outings.
UTD 81, HOWARD PAYNE 75
UTD was finally able to shake off a determined Howard Payne squad Thursday, but not before guard Temaine Wright came to life in the second half with 12 points and a pair of key free throws to break open a one-possession game with :28 seconds left. UTD and HPU had traded 20 lead changes and seven ties until the Comets finally took the lead for good on a Lowery layup witgh 17:21 left. UTD moved out to as much as an 8-point lead, but the Yellowjackets were able to battle back three times (59-61 at 7:23, 64-65 at 4:15 and 72-75 with :38 remaining.
The Comets were able to convert at the foul line in the final minute, which was a spot that caused HPU trouble all game long. The Yellowjackets hit just 9 of 20 free throws, which didn't allow them to take advantage of a 55 percent shooting night from the field. UTD shot just 41.7 percent, but went 23-for-28 at the line. The Comets ended up with five players in double figures, led by Brandon Greene (who also had nine rebounds) and Rodgers, who came up big off the bench.
UTD 67, SUL ROSS 59
The Comets used a stellar second-half performance and clutch free-throw shooting near the end to pull away for their second win of the weekend. UTD trailed just 26-23 after a sluggish first half that saw them hit just 40.9 percent from the field. But after halftime, the Comets opened on fire, using a 16-2 run that put them ahead, 39-28, at 13:25. Sul Ross creeped back to within three (50-53) with 3:52 remaining and again (57-60) with :57 left on the clock, but UTD countered with a 15-of-24 shooting performance in the second period.
UTD got double-figure scoring out of Lowery (14), Wright and Rodgers (13 ea.) while also forcing 20 SRSU turnovers.


12.29.07
Comets Clamp Down On Luther, 80-35
Defensive Effort Sets UTD Record For Fewest Points Allowed
RADIO BROADCAST: UTD vs. LUTHER

RICHARDSON, TX - The UTD men's basketball team set a new team record for the fewest points allowed in a game Saturday with an 80-35 defensive spectacle against Luther College of Iowa.
The Comets, who improved to 6-3, got at least one bucket from all 16 players on the active roster. Freshman Jimmy Witten paced the squad with 13 points in just 22 minutes of playing time.
The UTD defense held the Luther Norse to just 35 percent shooting, forced 24 turnovers and came up with 19 steals. Meanwhile, UTD shot a stellar 59 percent (33-56) themselves from the field and out-rebounded the Norse, 32-25.
The Comets actually trailed 4-3 three minutes into the game, but then went on a 38-13 run to take a 41-17 lead into the dressing room. The lead increased to 40 points (70-30) with 5:11 left when UTD coach Terry Butterfield put in the remaining players from his bench, but the Comet reserves finished out the game on a 10-5 run to get everyone in the scorebook.
The 35 points allowed broke a record for Fewest Points Allowed from a game on Nov. 19, 1999, when UTD defeated Dallas Christian College, 94-39. The 35 points is six points shy of an American Southwest Conference record, but the 55-point margin of victory in the Dallas Christian game is still an ASC record.


12.17.07
Two Home Losses Slows UTD's Fast Start
West Leader UMHB, Concordia Put End To Comets Early Division Lead
RADIO BROADCAST: UTD vs. UMHB (.mp3)

RICHARDSON, TX - The UTD men's basketball team had a less-than-successful return to American Southwest Conference play after starting the season 5-1. The Comets fell to 5-3 and even at 2-2 in league play after faltering late in a pair of home losses to West Division leader Mary Hardin-Baylor and Concordia University.
Concordia rallied in the final 3:50 to overtake UTD, 75-72, Saturday; then UTD gave up an 8-point lead in the final nine minutes Monday to allow UMHB to stay perfect in ASC play, 63-56.
Ernie Lowery had a 44-point weekend, but it wasn't enough as he and his teammates had trouble scoring in the late moments of each game.
CONCORDIA 75, UTD 72
UTD held its own against the deep and athletic Tornados, but could not overcome a poor second half in their 75-72 loss. The Comets gave up a 43-37 halftime lead by hitting just 39.7 percent from the floor after halftime, then missed on three different three-point shots in the game's final :22 that could have sent the contest into overtime. UTD fiinished a close first half with a 10-5 run, but let the Tornados force a 48-48 tie with 14:38 left. The Comets regained the lead and were still up 67-66 with 3:50 left only to see Concordia score nine unanswered to go up 75-67 with 1:03 on the clock. A Jared Fleming steal and layout got the game within reach with :22 left at 75-72.
Ernie Lowery topped all UTD scorers with 20 points while Jimmy Witten finished with a double-double (12 points, 13 rebounds).
UMHB 63, UTD 56
The Comets looked well on their way to handing the visiting UMHB Crusaders their first conference loss when they completed a 20-11 run to open the second half and were up 50-42. But UMHB came to life and the UTD offense suddenly went stone cold, scoring just six points in the final 9:11 of the half. The Crusaders regained the lead at 4:57 and scored eight of the game's final 10 points. The Comets still had a chance when Jimmy Witten nailed a couple of free throws to make it 60-56 with :45 left, but the Crusaders converted their free throws down the stretch. Despite giving up an early 10-0 run to UMHB, the Comets rallied in the first half to take a 31-30 lead at the break.
Lowery again stepped up to lead UTD with 23 points, but no other Comet worked his way into double figures as UTD ended the game shooting just .379 from the field. Despite a very physical game and 42 combined fouls, UTD had just seven free throw opportunities in the game and hit just four of them. UMHB actually helped the Comet cause by missing 9-of-25 from the foul line.


12.11.07
UTD Freshman Wins ASC Weekly Award
Jimmy Witten Named ASC East Division Player of the Week

RICHARDSON, TX - University of Texas at Dallas freshman wing Jimmy Witten has been named the American Southwest Conference East Division Player of the Week after a team-leading performance in last week's 82-72 win over Austin College.
Witten, a freshman from Houston Clear Lake High School, scored 19 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out three assists to help the Comets shake off the cobwebs from a 10-day break and defeat Austin College on the road. Witten, who also had a steal, shot 83.3 percent from the field and hit nine free throws.
Witten has come on strong for the 5-1 Comets, leading the team with a 7.3 rebounding average and is second on the squad, averaging 11.5 points per game.


12.06.07
Comets Hold Off 'Roos To Improve To 5-1
UTD Withstands 10-Day Layoff, Austin College 3-Pointers For 82-72 Win

SHERMAN, TX - The UTD men's basketball team won its fifth straight game Thursday night, returning to the court after a 10-day layoff; but the 82-72 road victory over Austin College wasn't as easy as the Comets planned.
UTD improved to 5-1 behind a 57 percent shooting night which included four players in double figures. But the Comets needed all that offense to overcome a Kangaroo team that nailed 15 three-point shots and cut a 24-point deficit down to just five points late in the game.
Freshman Jimmy Witten led the Comets with a 19-point, eight-rebound night while Ernie Lowery added 17 points and Jordan Eppink and Scott Rodgers contributed 12 apiece.
UTD raced out to a 44-29 halftime advantage, but AC stayed close with 21 points coming from beyond the arch in the first period. The Comets came out gunning after the break and stretched the lead up to 24 (55-31) at 17:12 following a couple of Jared Fleming baskets. But the 'Roos battled back, going on a furious 36-17 run that pulled them to within five (72-67) with three minutes still to play. Jordan Eppink and Lowery put some space back in the lead over the next minute, both nailing crucial free throws after AC resorted to fouling to get the ball back. Meanwhile the Comet defense clamped down and gave up just five more points over the last three minutes as UTD finished with a 10-5 run.


11.25.07
Comets Open ASC With Two Road Wins
UTD Gets Past Schreiner, Texas Lutheran By Identical 74-63 Scores

KERRVILLE/SEGUIN, TX - The UTD men's basketball team opened its American Southwest Conference schedule over the weekend with a pair of identical 74-63 road wins at Schreiner and Texas Lutheran University.
Junior Ernie Lowery combined for a 37-point weekend in leading the Comets (4-1, 2-0) in scoring for the third straight game. UTD kept both Schreiner and TLU winless on the young season by shooting over 50 percent in each game. It was the third and fourth straight wins for UTD.
UTD 74, SCHREINER 63
The Comets used a fast start and fast finish to dispose of Schreiner in their ASC opener. UTD built a 34-22 lead by the 4:30 mark of the first period, but the Mountaineers closed the gap to 34-30 at the half, then completed a 17-4 run that gave them another lead at 39-38 with 17:34 remaining in the game. But Brandon Greene ended that situation just :39 later and UTD went on an 18-8 run, builidng a 66-47 lead with 5:15 remaining.
Lowery had 20 points to lead the Comets, while Brandon Greene added 13 points with 7 rebounds and freshman Jimmy Witten pitched in 11 points and six rebounds. The Comets really dominated the glass, out-rebounding Schreiner, 44-23; and hit over 54 percent from the field.
UTD 74, TEXAS LUTHERAN 63
UTD again posted a 74-63 victory, but this one was even harder to come by. Texas Lutheran and the Comets each traded baskets and leads throughout the first half until UTD built a slim, 32-30 halftime advantage. UTD held the lead from that point on, but the Bulldogs were able to pull to within a basket at 49-51 with 6:03 left in the game. That's when the Comets went on a timely 15-4 run to stretch the lead to 66-53 with just 1:13 left. TLU attempted to force the issue at the foul line, but UTD was clutch down the stretch. Lowery hit six straight in the final :18 to finish with a team-high 17 points.

UTD got three other double-figure scoring performances, including a 15-point, eight-rebound day from Witten. Jordan Eppink added 12 points and Scott Rodgers had 11 off the bench.


11.20.07
Comets Overpower AC in Home Opener
UTD Bench Runs Away From Kangaroos In 71-55 Victory

RICHARDSON, TX - The UTD men's basketball team took control with their first bucket of the game - a three-pointer from Ernie Lowery – and raced away to 71-55 win over Austin College in their 2007-08 home opener Tuesday night.
The Comets (2-1) ran 15 players out onto the floor in their final tuneup before opening American Southwest Conference play this weekend on the road at Schreiner and Texas Lutheran Universities. Lowery was one of just three Comets to finish in double-figure scoring, but he added 19 points, becoming the third different Comet to lead the team in scoring during their first three games of the season.
Freshman Jimmy Witten contributed eight rebounds to a defensive effort that saw the Comets take a 47-25 advantage on the boards.
UTD wasted little time turning on the jets in this one, building a 14-2 lead just 3:29 into the game. At halftime, the Comets had a comfortable 42-27 lead. Andy Maish went inside with 64:39 left in the game to give UTD its biggest lead at 27 points (69-42) before both teams began emptying the benches.


11.17.07
Comets Open With Split at NY Tournament
UTD Takes Consolation Game In Buffalo State Tournament

BUFFALO, NY - The UTD men's basketball team blew its chance to open the 2007-08 season like it did last year (when the Comets won 11 straight out of the gate), but UTD held its own against some Northeastern Division III competition at the Buffalo State University Tournament.
UTD (1-1) lost its opener to Gwynedd-Mercy College of Pennsylvania, 89-76; then won the consoloation game of the tournament, 75-60, over D'Youville College of New York.
Sophomore Brandon Greene was the only Comet to finish in double-figure scoring both gams as UTD had different individuals step forward in each game. In the opener, Greene led the Comets with 17 points while freshman Jimmy Witten added 16 and sophomore Jordan Eppink pitched in 11 points and nine rebounds. On Saturday, it was sophomore Scott Rodgers leading the way with a 19-point game off the bench while Ernie Lowery had 15 points and Greene added 11. Witten was held to four points, but had a 10-rebound game.
Against GMC, the Comets never could get caught up as the Griffins led from the opening basket. UTD trailed just 38-32 at the half, but couldn't get any closer as GMC hit 60.4 percent of its shots.
D'Youville gave UTD a game for most of the first period, but the Comets broke open a tie game with an 11-0 run to finish the first half with a 41-30 advantage. UTD then opened the second period on a 25-14 streak and held on for the win. This time, UTD won the battle of the boards, 47-36.


>>2007-08 SEASON PREVIEW
Comet Youngsters Have Big Shoes To Fill
UTD Has Plenty of Options; But Must Find New Identity in 2007-08

RICHARDSON, TX - The 2007-08 University of Texas at Dallas men’s basketball season definitely presents one of those “good news-bad news” scenarios for Coach Terry Butterfield .
Getting the “bad news” out of the way first.
Butterfield is trying to figure out how to replace a pair of seniors who were pivotal parts of his team making four straight post-season appearances and winning the 2005 American Southwest Conference championship in 2005. “You can’t just go out and easily replace your team’s starting point guard (Travis Carruthers) and your program’s all-time leading scorer (Martin Salinas),” the coach explains. “They were the heart and soul of our team the last few years.”
“On the good side, though, we’ve got lots of talented, experienced guys coming back – guys who are capable of filling that void,” he continues. “But they will all have to step up their game to make that happen.”
It’s little wonder Butterfield is unable to let go of what his team has lost. Carruthers (who is serving as an assistant coach this year) guided the Comets’ offense for much of the last three seasons, dishing out 411 assists and capping off his career last year averaging 12.5 points per game. Salinas rewrote the UTD offensive record book, finishing his career with 1336 points and 469 three-point shots made. That’s a lot of offense to replace.
The Comets have high hopes that the slack can be taken up by a group of nine returning players, who have all seen substantial playing time during the last few years. “We’d like someone to step forward to become the ‘go-to’ guy,” Butterfield explains. “But it will probably be more of a team effort.
Sophomore post Jordan Eppink (Spring, TX) and senior wing Mike McKee (Houston, TX) seem the most logical choices. Eppink, an agile 6-5 inside player, was the ASC East Division Freshman of the Year last season, averaging 9.5 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. His .622 field goal shooting percentage was the best in school history. McKee, who averaged 8.8 points and 3.9 boards in 2006-07, is extremely athletic and can play several positions.
The Comets have considerable depth at both positions behind Eppink and McKee. In the post, UTD can easily go “big” with sophomore reserves Garrett Hillen (Austin, TX) and Andy Maish (The Woodlands, TX). The 6-9 Hillen showed promise before an injury ended his freshman year 14 games in. Maish, who is 6-7 and 250, is more of a physical player and got 21 games of experience as a freshman.
The wing position is also loaded with returners like junior Ernie Lowery (Spring, TX) and sophomores Scott Rodgers (The Woodlands, TX) and Brandon Greene (Houston, TX). Lowery started every game for the Comets last season, averaging 6.5 points and 3.5 rebounds. Rodgers was the first man off the bench last season, averaging 6.8 ppg. Greene became more of a factor for the Comets late last season, and is athletic enough to fill in for the Comets at almost every position on the floor.
“These guys can all play, and will all contribute,” Butterfield says. “They give us any number of combinations we can put out on the floor. The challenge early in the season will be figuring out which combinations work best.”
Filling Carruthers’ shoes at the point, however, may be a more difficult question to answer. Returners Jared Fleming (Hawkins, TX) and Paul Chapinduka (Arlington, TX), who both came off the bench last season, are battling with Clarendon College transfer Temaine Wright (Odessa, TX) to take over the starting role. “We just don’t have a lot of experience in the position right now,” the coach explains. “Hopefully, someone will step forward.”
Wright is just one of several newcomers who might become key players before the season is over. Freshman wing/post Jimmy Witten (Houston, TX) is 6-6 and has adjusted well to the college game during pre-season workouts. Dalroy Hunter (Houston, TX), another freshman, has a good shooting touch and is yet another option at the wing.
“One thing I can say about this group is that we should be better defensively,” Butterfield explains. “This group has a lot more speed and quickness than we’ve had in a while. But, remember, we’re still a very young team (with only two juniors and two seniors on the roster). These young guys are going to need to build on their prior success and take another step forward in order for us to be successful again this year.”
The Comets open their 2007-08 season this weekend at the Buffalo State Tournament in New York. The home owner is set for Tuesday, Nov. 20, against Austin College.


10.18.07
UTD Picked Third In ASC East Poll
Comets Tabbed For Fourth Straight Trip To ASC Tournament

RICHARDSON, TX - The University of Texas at Dallas men's basketball team, which has two key starters to replace in 2007-08, have been picked to finish third in the American Southwest Conference East Division after a vote of the division's head coaches, sports information directors and media members.
UTD, which finished 18-8, 13-7 last year, was chosen to finish in third place behind longtime ASC power Mississippi College and resurgent LeTourneau University. The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor was picked as the favorite in the ASC West Division.
The MC Choctaws were the overwhelming favorite in the East, landing 146 points and 20 of the possible 21 first-place votes. The two-time defending ASC champion Choctaws are fresh off their third consecutive trip to the Sweet 16 of the national tournament. MC went 27-3 last season, making their record over the last two years 56-5, which is good for the best winning percentage (.918) among all NCAA divisions over that span.
LeTourneau University, which was the only ASC team to defeat MC in 2006-07, was picked to finish second with 107 points and picked up the final first-place vote. University of Texas at Dallas was in the third spot with 95 points and University of Texas at Tyler, which becomes eligible for postseason play after serving as an NCAA provisional the last four seasons, landed in the fourth-place position to round out the division’s postseason qualifiers.
Louisiana College was selected fifth with 68 points, followed by University of the Ozarks (59 pts.) and East Texas Baptist University (38 pts.).
UMHB, which is coming off a season in which it reached the NCAA Division III national tournament and received a national ranking both for the first time, got 170 points and 10 of the possible 24 first-place votes in the West Division. McMurry also received 10 top-spot votes but totaled seven fewer points. Both squads reached the 20-win plateau in 2006-07.
Hardin-Simmons University, which reached the ASC title game last season, came in the third spot with 140 points and garnered a first-place tally. Concordia University Texas totaled 131 points and picked up three first-place votes to round out what would be the division’s four teams to qualify for the ASC Championship Tournament. Howard Payne University was picked fifth with 84 points, followed by Sul Ross State University (80 pts.), Texas Lutheran University (61 pts.) and Schreiner University (35 pts.).
ASC men’s basketball teams may begin the 2007-08 season as early as November 16, when UTD travels to the Buffalo State Tournament in Buffalo, NY. The eight-team ASC Men’s Basketball Championship Tournament is slated for February 29-March 2 at the site of the West Division’s No. 1 seed. The winner earns an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championship.


02.26.07
Eppink Named East Freshman of Year
Comets' Salinas Part of First Team All-East Division Squad

RICHARDSON, TX - Senior guard Martin Salinas and freshman post Jordan Eppink highlighted four University of Texas at Dallas selections on the 2007 All-American Southwest Conference men's basketball team.
Salinas, the four-year player from Alief who became UTD's alltime leading scorer this season with 1336 career points, was a first-team All-ASC East Division selection at guard. Eppink, the 6-5 freshman from Spring, was selected the ASC East Division Freshman of the Year.
Salinas led UTD with an 18.8 ppg scoring average, adding 89 three-point FG's to his school-record 183. He was a second-team All-East Division honoree last year.

Eppink was UTD's third-leading scorer at 9.5 ppg and led the Comets with 155 rebounds and a .622 shooting percentage from the floor.
Also honored from UTD was senior guard Travis Carruthers of Georgetown who was UTD's second-leading scorer at 12.5 ppg, hitting 43 3-pointers and among the nation's leaders with 155 assists on the season. Carruthers was named to the ASC East Division 2nd team.
Freshman Scott Rodgers of The Woodlands joined Eppink on the five-member East Division All-Freshman team. Rodgers was UTD's top player off the bench, averaging 6.8 ppg.

Eppink and Rodgers are both attending UTD as Academic Excellence Scholars. "They are both the embodiment of the scholar-athlete,” Coach Terry Butterfield said.
UTD finished the 2006-07 season with a program-best 18-8 record, but was eliminated in the first round of the ASC Championship Tournament in a one-point loss to McMurry.