University of Texas at Dallas Athletics

>>02.24.06
Comets Come Within :04
From Being Cinderella Again
Quarterfinals: Howard Payne 74, UTD 70

BROWNWOOD, TX - For all but :04 of Friday night's American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament quarterfinal matchup with host Howard Payne, the UTD men's basketball team had the YellowJackets and the rest of the ASC's elite worrying that Cinderella was back at the ball again.

But after Kersh Milson hit a pair of clutch free throws to give the Comets (the ASC East Division's No. 4 seed) a 70-69 advantage with just :12 on the clock, Howard Payne's Kendrick Johnson got freed up for a desperation three-pointer and banked it home with :04 left to give HPU only its third lead of the second half on its way to a 74-70 victory.

HPU got its final bucket at the buzzer after the Comets fumbled away the last-second inbound pass.

The YellowJackets (19-6) move on to face Mary Hardin-Baylor in Saturday's semifinal matchup. UMHB ironically also won its game in the final seconds on free throw just before time expired. Mississippi College and McMurry will meet in the other semifinal.

Unfortunately, the Comets (who finished the year at 11-15) will be packing up the equipment after doing just about everything they needed to pull the upset except stop that last-second three-pointer.

The Comets gave HPU absolute fits from the outset, connecting on 11 three-pointers (on 30 attempts) and outplaying the much larger Yellowjackets to take a 38-29 rebounding advantage.

UTD overcame an early deficit in the game and took charge midway through the first half by way of five three-pointers from Martin Salinas and Jay Swafford. Salinas finished the game with 20 points, hitting 6-of-8 from beyond the arch. Swafford had three and ended with 15 points while Kersh Milson ended the game with a double-double (11 points, 11 rebounds).

After tying the game at 21-21 with 9:45 remaining before the half, UTD clamped down on defense and allowed just four more HPU field goals the rest of the period to take a 35-31 halftime lead.

In the second half, the Comets continued to take it to the favored YellowJackets, who were playing in front of a large, enthusiastic home crowd. The Comets stretched the lead out to nine points (46-37) four minutes in.

From that point, UTD always seemed to have an answer when HPU would sneak close. After the Jackets cut the lead to 46-43 with 13:20 to go, Mike McKee and Adam Bush came up with big baskets to stretch the lead back out to seven. With 9:21, HPU got it to a two-point game (55-53) and Travis Carruthers answered with a three.

UTD's final big rally came with 6:40 to go when they broke away from a 61-58 lead with a pair of quick baskets to go up 65-58. But HPU answered with seven unanswered points at that juncture to tie the score.

The Comets actually had the opportunity twice to stretch that lead back out, but Milson and Bush both missed the front end of one-and-one free throw opportunities. HPU cashed in, taking its first lead since early in the first half with 1:50 to go. Salinas, however, shook loose and broke almost a six minute scoring drought with a three to regain the lead at 68-67 with :49 left.

The Yellowjackets regained the lead (69-68) just seconds later, but Milson (who had been struggling offensively all night long) was fouled with just :12 left on the clock and delivered with two clutch free throws. After a UTD time out, HPU was able to take the ball down to the other end and then hit the game winner with :04 remaining.

Four teams will continue playing for the 2006 ASC championship, and the conference's automatic berth in the NCAA Division III national tournament.


>>02.20.06
Cinderella Is Back At The Ball
Men's Hoopsters Make Third Straight
Trip To ASC Tournament

RICHARDSON, TX - For the third consecutive season, the UTD men's basketball team has used a late-season run to qualify for the American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament, set for this weekend at Howard Payne University in Brownwood, TX.

UTD (11-14, 11-11) will face HPU (18-6, 17-5), the host and No. 1 seed out of the ASC West Division, in the first and final quarterfinal matchup at 7:30 pm Friday night.

Slow starts and fast finishes have become a familiar storyline for the UTD men’s basketball team, and that's why, once again, no one is giving the Comets much of a chance as they enter as the No. 4 seed out of the ASC’s East Division. But that’s what the same prognosticators were saying about the Cinderella Comets in 2005 – when UTD pulled off three straight upsets over higher-seeded teams and won the school’s first-ever ASC title.

Once again, the Comets had to make a strong finish after stumbling out of the gate with a 2-9 start. UTD (11-14, 11-11) won 9 of its final 14 games, all against divisional opponents, and had a playoff spot wrapped up with a week to go in the regular season.

The 2005-06 Comets, when their offense is clicking, are as dangerous as any team in the tournament. UTD led the tournament in three-point shooting, hitting 210-of-567 attempts (.365) beyond the arch. Sharp-shooters Jay Swafford (75 three’s) and Martin Salinas (67 three’s) (pictured above right) have gotten help from seven other teammates this season with the long-range threat.

Junior posts Kersh Milson (11.8 ppg) and Adam Bush (10.2 ppg) have also provided an inside presence for the Comets. Point guard Travis Carruthers is among the nation’s leaders in assists per game with 153.

With a win against HPU, the Comets would meet the winner of Mary Hardin-Baylor (3W/17-8, 16-6)/East Texas Baptist (2E/14-11, 14-8) in a semifinal Saturday at 2:00 pm. Nationally-ranked Mississippi College (1E/24-1, 21-1) heads up the other side of the bracket, which includes McMurry (2W/17-8, 16-6), University of the Ozarks (3E/14-11, 14-8) and Sul Ross State (4W/13-12, 13-9).

The championship game is set for 2 pm Sunday afternoon.


>>02.27.06
Salinas, Swafford Chosen
For All-ASC Divisional Teams

RICHARDSON, TX - Junior guard Martin Salinas and senior wing Jay Swafford, members of the University of Texas at Dallas men's basketball team, were named to the post-season American Southwest Conference All-East Division teams, in post-season awards announced Monday.

Salinas, a junior from Alief, TX (Hastings HS), was chosen to the All-East Division Second Team. He was the Comets' leading scorer in 2005-06, averaging 14.7 points per game, and hit 73 three-pointers in the season to add to his school career record totals.

Swafford, a senior from Denton, TX (Ryan HS), was chosen for the East Division Honorable Mention squad after leading the team with 78 three-pointers. Swafford averaged 12.6 points per game, and broke Salinas' single-season record with a .459 shooting percentage (78-170) from beyond the arch.


Here is the ASC Official Release:
Division Players of the Year Cedric Isom,
Sidney Hooper Lead Men's Basketball Awards

RICHARDSON, TX----- American Southwest Conference Division Players of the Year Cedric Isom of East Texas Baptist University and Sidney Hooper of Sul Ross State University headline the list of 2006 men’s basketball postseason award winners announced by the conference. The all-conference and all-division teams and awards are selected by vote of the 16 league head coaches.

A senior guard, Isom (Newton, Texa/NHSs) won his third consecutive ASC East Division Player of the Year award after topping ASC East scoring with a 17.9-point average vs. the league and ranking among the conference-game top 10 in rebounding (7.3) and steals average (2.14). Isom collected his third All-ASC and a fourth All-East Division team award. He led East Texas Baptist to a berth in the ASC Championship Tournament, pouring-in 28 points with eight rebounds and five assists in a quarterfinal loss to Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Senior guard Hooper (Andrews, Texas/AHS) was voted ASC West Division Player of the Year after leading Sul Ross State to a fourth straight appearance in the ASC Championship Tournament. Hooper was named for a second season to the All-ASC and All-ASC West Division teams. Hooper led conference-game scoring with a 22.6-point average including 70 three-point field goals, and was ranked among the top 10 in steals average, and free throw and three-point shooting percentage. Hooper scored 14 points and made six steals in the Lobos' ASC tournament quarterfinal game vs. #10 Mississippi College.

Joining Isom and Hooper on the ASC all-conference team are junior forward Chris Isom (Newton, Texas/NHS), sophomore post Sean Wheeler (San Angelo, Texas) and sophomore forward Tyler Winford (Madison, Miss.). Isom and Winford were also named to the All-East Division First Team and Wheeler to the All-West Division First Team.

Other ASC East Division individual award recipients include Defensive Player of the Year D.J. Jones (Vicksburg, Miss.) of Mississippi College; Newcomer of the Year Tim Broomfield (Taylorsville, Miss.); and Freshman of the Year Dusty Evers (White Oak, Texas/WOHS) of LeTourneau University. Don Lofton, coach of division champion Mississippi College, was voted ASC East Division Coach of the Year for a second consecutive season.

Other ASC West Division award winners include Defensive Player of the Year Mardocee Jean (Missouri City, Texas/Hightower HS) of Hardin-Simmons University; Freshman of the Year Joel McDonald (Lubbock, Texas) of Concordia University at Austin; and Newcomer of the Year C.J. Acosta (El Paso, Texas/Ysleta HS) of Sul Ross State. Howard Payne University head coach Charles Patillo was named ASC West Coach of the Year.

Complete All-Conference and All-Division teams and award winners follow.

AMERICAN SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE
MEN'S BASKETBALL 2006 ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Listed in order of voting point totals
Cedric Isom G East Texas Baptist Sr. Newton, Texas (NHS)
Sidney Hooper G Sul Ross State Sr. Andrews, Texas (AHS)
Chris Isom F East Texas Baptist Jr. Newton, Texas (NHS)
Sean Wheeler P Howard Payne So. San Angelo, Texas
Tyler Winford F Mississippi College So. Madison, Miss.

AMERICAN SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE EAST DIVISION AWARDS
Listed in order of voting point totals
ALL-ASC EAST DIVISION FIRST TEAM
Cedric Isom G East Texas Baptist Sr. Newton, Texas (NHS)
Chris Isom F East Texas Baptist Jr. Newton, Texas (NHS)
Tyler Winford F Mississippi College So. Madison, Miss.
Tim Broomfield C Mississippi College Jr. Taylorsville, Miss.
Habeeb Kareem C Univ. of the Ozarks So. Richmond, Texas (G.W. Bush HS)
ASC East Division Player of the Year -- Cedric Isom, G, Sr., East Texas Baptist University
ASC East Division Freshman of the Year -- Dusty Evers, C, Fr., LeTourneau University
ASC East Division Defensive Player of the Year -- D.J. Jones, F, Jr., Mississippi College (Vicksburg, Miss.)
ASC East Division Newcomer of the Year -- Tim Broomfield, C, Jr., Mississippi College
ASC East Division Coach of the Year -- Don Lofton, Mississippi College

ALL-ASC EAST DIVISION FRESHMAN TEAM
Dusty Evers C LeTourneau Fr. White Oak, Texas (WOHS)
Dewones Smith G LeTourneau Fr. Union Church, Miss. (Jefferson Co. HS)
Adam Bishop G Austin College Fr. Carrollton, Texas (Hebron HS)
Kris Ryan G East Texas Baptist Fr. Minden, La. (MHS)
Cody Anderle C East Texas Baptist Fr. Lindsay, Texas (LHS)

ALL-ASC EAST DIVISION SECOND TEAM
Anthony Holman G/F Austin College Sr. No.Richland Hills, Texas (Birdville HS)
Lonny Vasquez F Mississippi College Sr. St. Rose, La.
Martin Salinas G Texas-Dallas Jr. Alief, Texas (Hastings HS)
Morey Skluzacek F Louisiana College So. Alexandria, La. (Menard HS)
Melvin Allen C East Texas Baptist Sr. Longview, Texas (LHS)

ALL-ASC EAST DIVISION HONORABLE MENTION
Joe Henderson G Texas-Tyler Sr. Goodrich, Texas (GHS)
Brandon Weasby G Texas-Tyler Jr. Houston, Texas (Cy-Springs HS)
Jay Swafford G Texas-Dallas Sr. Denton, Texas (Denton Ryan HS)
Partick Branche F Texas-Tyler Jr. Houston, Texas (Cy-Springs HS)
Brad Johnson G Univ. of the Ozarks Sr. Ozark, Ark. (OHS)
Jonathan Collins PG Mississippi College So. Dallas, Texas (Bishop Dunne HS)
Casey Meador G Louisiana College Sr. Abbeville, La. (No. Vermillion HS)
Josh Joyner F Univ. of the Ozarks Sr. Little Rock, Ark. (McClellan HS)
Dewones Smith G LeTourneau Fr. White Oak, Texas (WOHS)
Dusty Evers C LeTourneau Fr. Union Church, Miss.

AMERICAN SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE WEST DIVISION AWARDS
Listed in order of voting point totals
ALL-ASC WEST DIVISION FIRST TEAM
Sidney Hooper G Sul Ross State Sr. Andrews, Texas (AHS)
Sean Wheeler P Howard Payne So. San Angelo, Texas
Valentino Maxwell F Concordia-Austin So. Killeen, Texas (Harker Heights HS)
Patrick Oliver F Mary Hardin-Baylor Sr. Orchard, Texas
Zach Pickelman F Hardin-Simmons Jr. New Braunfels, Texas (Canyon HS)
ASC West Division Player of the Year -- Sidney Hooper, G, Sr., Sul Ross State University
ASC West Division Freshman of the Year -- Joel McDonald, G, Fr., Concordia University at Austin
ASC West Division Defensive Player of the Year -- Mardochee Jean, C, So., Hardin-Simmons University
ASC West Division Newcomer of the Year -- C.J. Acosta, F, Jr., Sul Ross State University
ASC West Division Coach of the Year -- Charles Patillo, Howard Payne University

ALL-ASC WEST DIVISION FRESHMAN TEAM
Joel McDonald G Concordia-Austin Fr. Lubbock, Texas
Matt Santa Cruz G Sul Ross State Fr. San Antonio, Texas (So. San Antonio HS)
Nate Walton G Texas Lutheran Fr. Houston, Texas (Westside HS)
Tim Lytle G Mary Hardin-Baylor Fr. San Antonio, Texas
Jesus Banuelos # F Sul Ross State Fr. El Paso, Texas (Jefferson HS)
Travis Clark # F Schreiner Fr. Salado, Texas (SHS)
Tom Herman # P Howard Payne Fr. Fort Worth, Texas
# tie in voting

ALL-ASC WEST DIVISION SECOND TEAM
Cliff McGuire P Howard Payne Sr. Haskel, Texas
Kendrick Johnson G Howard Payne Jr. Houston, Texas
Mardochee Jean C Hardin-Simmons So. Missouri City, Texas (Hightower HS)
Finlay Brashears F McMurry Sr. Clarksville, Ark.
Matt Nelson P Texas Lutheran Sr. Spring, Texas (Klein HS)

ALL-ASC WEST DIVISION HONORABLE MENTION
C.J. Acosta F Sul Ross State Jr. El Paso, Texas (Ysleta HS)
Elijah Bryant G McMurry Sr. Sante Fe, N.M.
Justin Schwartz F Mary Hardin-Baylor Sr. Belton, Texas
Matt Zinser G Howard Payne Sr. Burnet, Texas
Rommel Colina F/P McMurry Sr. Caracas, Venezuela
Kevin Deans F Schreiner Jr. San Antonio, Texas (John Jay HS)
Kevin Guyden G Mary Hardin-Baylor Jr. Houston, Texas
Will Hudson G Texas Lutheran Sr. San Antonio, Texas (Churchill HS)
Joseph Davis PG Schreiner Sr. Temple, Texas (THS)
Jerrod Carpenter P Texas Lutheran Sr. Utopia, Texas (UHS)
Alvin Stevens G McMurry Jr. San Antonio, Texas (Highlands HS)
Lance Hrncir F Schreiner Sr. Hallettsville, Texas (HHS)
James Peters G Hardin-Simmons So. Abilene, Texas (Cooper HS)
Jonathan Young F Schreiner Jr. Copperas Cove, Texas (CCHS)-- ASC --


>>03.01.06
Eight Hoopsters Earn Academic Award
Comet Women's Basketball Team Has Seven On ASC Squad

RICHARDSON, TX - Eight student-athletes from the University of Texas at Dallas basketball team were named members of the American Southwest Conference Academic All-Conference team for their sport in 2005-06

The group of eight was part of 99 student-athletes from the conference's 16 member insitutions. To be eligible for ASC All-Academic honors, student-athletes must have lettered in the 2005-06 season, be in at least the second academic year at their institution, and carry a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.00 or better.


>>02.18.06
UTD Runs Off & Leaves LC Behind
In Final Regular Season Victory
UTD 91, Louisiana College 84

RICHARDSON, TX - The University of Texas at Dallas men's basketball team used its final regular season game to tune up for the American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament, putting on an impressive display in a 91-84 win over Louisiana College.

Senior Jay Swafford - one of five seniors playing their final regular season home game - lit up the Wildcats (8-17, 8-14) with a 22-point afternoon, hitting 6-of-10 from beyond the three-point arch. Mike McKee came off the bench for 13 points while Adam Bush added 11 and Kersh Milson 10. Seniors Brent Anderson and Richard Gravenstein, getting a start in their final game, both finished with nine points.

Perhaps the most impressive performance of the afternoon belonged to the Comet offense, which was credited with 24 assists, just two shy of the all-time school single-game record. Junior point guard Travis Carruthers had 11 assists, and also finished just short of a school mark. UTD hit 13 three-pointers in the game as a team - just one shy of the school record.

UTD (11-14, 11-11) jumped out to an early lead, but had to hold off LC as the Wildcats were hitting nine threes of their own. LC came back to trail by just a point (41-40) at the half, but UTD widened the lead back to 12 points (59-47) the first five minutes of the second period. When the Wildcats clawed their way back to a point (62-61 with 10:40 left), the Comets answered with a 12 unanswered points and had a 13-point lead (75-61) with 7:40 to go. UTD widened the margin to as many as 19 points (85-66) with 4:54 left and LC couldn't get any closer than the final margin of seven points at the buzzer.

Both teams shot over 50% from the field, but UTD was 13-of-30 from beyond the arch; and outrebounded the Wildcats, 36-29.

UTD opens the ASC Tournament next Friday in Brownwood against Howard Payne, the host No. 1 seed out of the West Division.


>>02.26.06
Playoff-Bound Comets Get Full Taste
Of Probable Tournament Favorite
Mississippi College 76, UTD 55

RICHARDSON, TX - The University of Texas at Dallas men's basketball team found out on Monday that it had clinced the American Southwest Conference East Division's No. 4 seed in the upcoming ASC Championship Tournament. On Thursday night, they got an up-close look at the team that will be favored to win that event - the No. 11-ranked Mississippi Choctaws, who ran away with a 76-55 victory over UTD.

The Choctaws (23-1, 20-1) continuously reloaded their high-octane, fast-paced offense throughout the game, putting 11 different players on the floor for significant minutes and running away with a 66.7% shooting night from the floor (30-of-45).

Meanwhile, UTD (10-14, 10-11) did all it could to keep up - hitting eight three-point shots along the way. But only senior Kersh Milson (pictured) was able to come up with a double-figure scoring night, finishing with 12 points. UTD shot just 36.5 percent from the field, was down, 36-20, at halftime; and was outscored another 40-35 in the second period.


>>01.26.06
UTD Digs Out of Big Early Hole To
Outshoot LeTourneau In ASC East Win
UTD 75, LETU 68

LONGVIEW, TX - Sixteen minutes into Thursday night's American Southwest Conference East Division game against LeTourneau, the UTD men's basketball team found itself in a pitiful hole. The YellowJackets had opened up a 15-point, 37-22 lead behind five three-point shots. The Comets, on the other hand, were 1-for-9 from behind the arch at that point, and in serious possibility of letting the game get away from them.

But Martin Salinas hit three straight long-range bombs in the final 3:05 of the half as the Comets went on a 10-0 run to climb back in the game at the half. UTD then turned on the jets in the second half, hitting 54% from the field on its way to a 75-68, come-from-behind win.

The victory, the Comets' fourth in its last five games, improved UTD's record to 6-10 and 6-7 in ASC East Division play – right back into the thick of the divisional race for post-season berths. LETU fell to 6-11, 5-10.

Salinas, who led the team with a 19-point night, was not the only Comet in double figures. In fact, UTD's starting five scored all but two points in the win. Jay Swafford, who had three 3-pointers, wa second in scoring with 18 while Adam Bush added 14. Kersh Milson picked up another double-double, scoring 13 with 10 rebounds.

Salinas' three 3's at the end of the first half cut LETU's first-half lead down to 37-32. The Comets then opened the second period with a 12-7 run to tie the game at 44-44 (15:02) on a Bush layup. After the score was tied again at 50-50 (11:23), UTD opened the game up with a 9-0 run to go up, 59-50, with 7:40 remaining. The YellowJackets went almost five minutes between baskets, but came back to life just long enough to cut the Comet lead down to one (67-66) with 1:04 on the clock.

Travis Carruthers grabbed a crucial rebound off a LETU miss with :31 left, was fouled, then gave the Comets a 70-66 cushion by hitting both free throws. Swafford then did the exact same thing after a LETU miss with :23 left to stretch the lead to 72-66, then was fouled a second time and extended the lead moments later. Carruthers then put the game at its final margin with :04 left on the clock by sinking two more free throws.


>>01.21.06
UTD Combines For 10 Three-Pointers
To Win Third Game In Last Four
UTD 75, Louisiana College 65

PINEVILLE, LA - The University of Texas at Dallas men's basketball team picked up its third win in its last four games Saturday afternoon with a 75-65 victory over Louisiana College.

Jay Swafford had a team-high 20 points, hitting four three-pointers, while Kersh Milson had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Martin Salinas finished the weekend with 33 points after scoring 17 against the Wildcats.

The victory improved UTD's record to 5-10, but more importantly, 5-7 in ASC play. Louisiana College dropped to 4-11, 4-8.

After the score was tied at 18-18 midway through the first half, the Comets opened the game up by going on a 10-0 run, sparked by Salinas and Swafford three-pointers, to go up 28-18. At halftime, UTD led, 37-27. The Comets then stretched their advantage out to as much as 16 points (69-53) with 6:00 remaining. UTD then held off any late charge and finished with the 10-point win.


>>01.19.06
ASC East Leader Mississippi College Pays Comets Back For ASC Title Loss
Mississippi College 76, UTD 66

CLINTON, MS - The last time the UTD men's basketball team faced nationally-ranked Mississippi College on the Choctaws' home floor, UTD guard Martin Salinas lit up MC for 26 points, hitting six three-point shots in UTD's 73-55 American Southwest Conference championship game win.

Thursday night, the ASC East Division-leading Choctaws returned the favor by tossing in nine long-range bombs on their way to a 76-66 win over the Comets. Salinas again led his team in scoring, but had to settle for just 16 points and one three-point shot.

The win actually required quite a rally for the 13-1, 10-1 MC team, which trailed the Comets (4-10, 4-7) at halftime, 33-29. After scoring the final five points of the first half, MC opened the second period with a 13-8 run to go up 46-37 with 14:39 remaining. UTD fought back to cut the lead down to three (65-62) with 3:37 remaining, but went cold in the final minutes, scoring just twice more from the floor.

After holding the Choctaws to a 37 percent shooting performance in the first half, the Comets allowed MC to hit 16-of-25 (.640) in the second half and were hurt by six three-pointers. The Choctaws also dominated the boards, out-rebounding UTD, 43-24, for the game.

Adam Bush also added 16 points for the Comets while Travis Carruthers put in 11.


>>01.14.06
UTD Doesn't Back Down Against Physical Ozarks, Holds On For Win
UTD 63, Univ. of the Ozarks 55

RICHARDSON, TX - The UTD Comets gave the quick and physical University of the Ozarks all it could handle Saturday afternoon...and then some. UTD got ahold of a lead midway through the first half, then kept the pressure on to hold off Ozarks for an important 63-55 ASC East Division win.

Kersh Milson led four Comets in double figures with a 17-point afternoon while UTD (4-9, 4-6) used some gutsy defense to keep the Eagles (7-7, 7-4) at bay and win their second straight game. Milson pulled down a critical rebound with 11 seconds remaining and a six-point lead, then hit a pair of clutch free throws to put the game on ice.

Travis Carruthers had a 13-point day. Jay Swafford hit several key first-half shots and finished with 11 points, including three 3-pointers. Adam Bush got loose inside for a 10-point afternoon.

Down 8-2 just four minutes into the game, UTD fought back to tie the game for the first time at 11-11 at 13:08; then took a lead it would never surrender with a 9-1 run (20-12) with 5:42 to go in the half. Ozarks snuck back to within one at 22-21 (3:26), but UTD finished the half with an 8-2 run to lead, 30-23.

The Comets maintained their lead, but could never get more than 10 points up (40-30 at 14:39) on the Eagles, who had the ability to score quickly. The 40-30 lead turned into a 44-44 tie just five minutes later abnd the fight was on.

After leading briefly again, UTD saw its advantage slip away as UO came back to tie the score at 53-53 with 3:12 remaining. But Milson hit a key three-pointer to open things up again at 56-53. Ozarks got to within a point (56-55) at 2:16 on a Scott McCall inside shot, but that was the last time the Eagles would score. Carruthers hit another big three for the Comets, then Martin Salinas and Milson finished off the afternoon with successful trips to the free-throw line.

UTD will put its two-game win streak on the line Thursday at division leader and nationally ranked Mississippi College.


>>01.12.06
UTD Jumps Back On Winning Track
With Runaway Win Over Austin College
UTD 81, Austin College 64

RICHARDSON, TX - The University of Texas at Dallas basketball team broke out of a three-game losing streak Thursday night with a solid 81-64 win over Austin College.

UTD (3-9, 3-6) broke open a close game in the first half with a strong showing right out of the box after halftime to hand Austin College (1-12 overall) its 10th consecutive ASC loss.

Travis Carruthers became the offensive star of the night, nailing 20 points, including three 3-pointers. Team scoring leader Martin Salinas had an off night shooting the ball, but still finished with 18 points. Kersh Milson chipped in 13 and pulled down 8 rebounds.

UTD led early, but let Austin College catch up to tie the game at 21-21 with 8:37 left in the first half. The Comets then finished the half with a 20-11 run to go up 41-32 at intermission.

After the break, UTD scored 8 of the first 9 points of the half to move out to a 49-33 advantage. The Comets enjoyed their largest lead of the game - 21 points (59-38) - with 10:48 remaining.

UTD shot an impressive 50.9 percent from the floor (29-57), but was much more efficient before emptying the bench late. Austin College was held to 35.0 percent (21-60) shooting and turned the ball over 18 times. Both teams could have done better at the free-throw line, as the two combined for a 35-for-55 shooting night at the line.


>>01.07.06
Comets' Comeback Falls Short at SRSU
SRSU 68, UTD 63

ALPINE, TX - The UTD men's basketball team staged a desperation comeback attempt Saturday afternoon against Sul Ross State, but had nothing to show for their efforts as SRSU held on to claim a 68-63 victory over the Comets.

UTD, which fell to 2-9, 2-7 after dropping its third straight, rallied from as much as a 16-point deficit to pull to within a basket (65-63) with just :40 left in the game when Jay Swafford hit one of his four 3-point shots. The Comets, however, could not get the ball back in the basket in the game's final seconds and took the loss. SRSU finished up its inter-divisional play at 5-7, 5-4.

Swafford was one of five Comets to finish in double figures, although his 14 points were the most any UTD player could muster. SRSU's Sidney Hooper, meanwhile, poured in 30 points. Adam Bush had an 11-point, 10-rebound game for the Comets.

UTD shot 43.3 percent, but had just five free throw attempts in the game, hitting only one. SRSU, meanwhile, went to the line 25 times, scoring 17 points.

Following a familiar script, UTD and Sul Ross were tied at 19-19 with 6:08 to go in the first half before the Lobos went on a 17-6 run to finish the first period with a 36-24 lead. SRSU expanded its lead out to 46-30 with 15:12 remaining, but the Comets were back within shooting distance at 56-50 with 7:30 to go. A 15-9 run then got UTD to just two points down (65-63) with :40 remaining before SRSU closed out the game.


>>01.05.06
YellowJackets Knock UTD Further Down
Howard Payne 87, UTD 73

BROWNWOOD, TX - The University of Texas at Dallas men's basketball team has started its last two seasons slowly, but the 2005-06 squad may be finding itself in a hole it can't climb out of after Thursday night's 87-73 loss to Howard Payne.

The game was probably more one-sided than the score indicated as UTD (2-8, 2-5) scored the last six points of the game in the final minutes. The Comets hit just 43 percent from the field and were just 17-of-33 at the free throw line. Meanwhile, Howard Payne (7-3, 6-2) had four players finish with double-figure nights and hit over 56.5 percent from the field.

Tyrone Hurt had a nice night with 8 points and 10 rebounds, but only Martin Salinas finished in double figures for UTD with 17 points.

The Comets slumped early, but fought back to get within one point (23-22) with 8:19 to go in the first half. But HPU exploded for a 23-6 run for the rest of the half and had the game decided by intermission with a 46-28 lead. The YellowJackets then picked up the pace again in the second half, and were up 28 points (75-46) with 10:28 to go in the game.


>>12.17.05
Sporadic Play Dooms Comets' Bid To
Upset West Leader Mary Hardin-Baylor
Mary Hardin-Baylor 76, UTD 61

RICHARDSON, TX - With 10:47 to play in Saturday's American Southwest Conference showdown with West Division leader University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, the UTD men's basketball team were right in the thick of it.

The Comets had just fought back from an 11-point deficit (52-41 at 15:21) with a 14-3 run to tie the score at 55-55, and set up what looked like a real battle over the game's final quarter of play against a team that was among the leaders in the ASC West Division.

But that's when the shots stopped falling and turnovers started mounting for the Comets, who fell to 2-7, 2-4, after UMHB ran away and left the Comets behind for a 76-61 win. Over the final 10:47 of the game, UTD would hit just one more shot from the floor, and none over the game's final 6:20.

Mike McKee's jumper with 6:20 to go temporarily cooled what turned into a 23-2 UMHB run over the next six minutes as the Crusaders went up, 73-57, with only 1:26 to go. The Comets' only other points came at the free throw line late as UTD's final six possessions ended in a missed shot and a Crusader rebound. In addition, the Comets' committed six late fouls, losing both Kersh Milson and Tyrone Hurt with the game on the line.

UTD had made a similar run early in the game, thanks primarily to Milson's early hot hand from beyond the three-point arch. The senior had 14 points at halftime after nailing four 3's as the Comets came back from an early 21-9 deficit to tie the score at 32-32 with 3:14 remaining in the first half.

UTD trailed at the half, 40-36, then fell back in a hole as the Crusaders opened the second period with a 12-5 run to gain their 52-41 advantage with 15:29 remaining.

The two teams combined for 20 three-pointers as UMHB's Brandon Gatlin nailed six to finish with a game-high 25 points. Inside force Patrick Oliver picked up 16 points. UTD was paced by Milson (16), Jay Swafford (12) and Travis Carruthers (12), but only Carruthers scored more than five of his points in the second half.


>>12.15.05
Comets Run Away With Offensive Show
To Down Concordia, Win 2nd Straight
UTD 85, Concordia-Austin 62

RICHARDSON, TX - The University of Texas at Dallas played their best offensive game of the season Thursday night, and as a reward, picked up their second straight victory - an 85-62 thumping of Concordia-Austin.

The Comets (2-6, 2-3) got a double-double from guard Martin Salinas who scored 17 points and pulled down an uncharacteristic 13 rebounds as UTD dominated inside. UTD outrebounded the Tornados, 48-28.

Salinas had 15 of his points after halftime as the Comets ran off and left the Tornados behind with a scoring flurry that saw UTD's offense shooting over 60 percent from the floor most of the game. The Comets finished with a 55.9% shooting night.

After Concordia got to within four at 30-26, UTD finished off the final 4:55 of the first half with a 19-6 run to build a 49-32 halftime lead, and never looked back. Even with five three-pointers after the half, Concordia could not cut into the margin that UTD continued to pad.

The Comets got over 40 points "in the paint" during the game as Adam Bush (14 points, 7 rebounds), Tyrone Hurt (8 points, 8 rebounds) and Kersh Milson (8 points, 4 rebounds) worked up close for several short-range baskets. Guard Travis Carruthers found a hot-shooting hand and added 15 points. The Comets worked the ball around for a number of open shots, racking up 23 assists among them for the night.

On defense, UTD held Concordia to just 36.8% shooting and forced 13 turnovers.


>>12.07.05
Comets Battle Back, Hold On
To Top Schreiner For First Win
UTD 57, Schreiner 55

KERRVILLE, TX - It had been more than a week since University of Texas at Dallas guard Martin Salinas and his teammates had played well enough to win a basketball game. But Wednesday night, Salinas returned to his offensive form and the Comets finally got their first victory of the season by holding off Schreiner, 57-55, in an American Southwest Conference game.

Salinas, who had scored just nine total points in the two games since setting a school record with 40 points against McMurry on Nov. 28, came alive in the second half of the Wednesday night game. He scored 18 of his team-high 20 points, and hit four big three-pointers in a game where every shot mattered.

Salinas' most important play of the game may have come with 4:20 left when he reached in to defelect a Schreiner pass, and raced down the court with the turnover for a layup to give UTD a three-point advantage (52-49) in a nip-and-tuck game. After Schreiner cut the lead back down to one in the game's final minutes, a Kersh Milson layup and two Travis Carruthers free throws put the Comets up at 56-51. Schreiner made one last run to pull to within one (56-55) with :24 seconds left. A missed UTD free throw in the final seconds opened the door for an unchallenged three-point attempt from Schreiner's Jonathan Young that could have given the Mountaineers the lead with :08 on the clock, but the shot rattled off the backboard.

The athletic Mountaineers put pressure on UTD the entire game with an up-tempo attack that gave Schreiner several leads throughout the first half. UTD tied the score at 23-23 at 3:31 before halftime, but Schreiner shut out the Comets the rest of the half to go up 32-23 at intermission. The Comets opened the second period on a 9-2 run to pull to within three (34-31) at the 16:19 mark. But SU answered with a run of its own and was back up eight (43-36) four minutes later. At 4:39, Bush got one of UTD's many inside baskets to cut the lead down to 50-49, before Salinas got his big steal and layup to put the Comets in command.

In addition to Salinas, Milson finished in double figures with 14 points. Tyrone Hurt had a 12-rebound performance for UTD.


>>11.28.05
Comets Can't Overcome First-Half Slide;
Fall To 0-5 After Letting HSU Get Away
Hardin-Simmons 58, UTD 47

RICHARDSON, TX - The winless University of Texas at Dallas men's basketball team did nothing to help itself snap out of its early-season slide Monday night. A 29 percent first-half shooting performance put the Comets in a 26-17 hole that UTD could not overcome in a sloppy 58-47 loss to Hardin-Simmons.

UTD (0-5, 0-2), which hit just five shots from the floor in the first half, actually rallied in the second half and took a pair of leads. Unfortunately for the Comets, neither stood up.

With 10:59 left in the game, UTD finally caught up and tied the score at 32-32 on a pair of Adam Bush free throws, only to see HSU instantly stretch its lead out to six points (41-35) three minutes later. Then, with 3:51 to go, guard Travis Carruthers nailed one of his four three-point shots to put UTD up, 47-46. That would be the last bucket the Comets would make the rest of the game as UTD did not score in the game's final 3:51.

Carruthers was the only Comet to finish in double figures, finishing the night with 12 points. Guard Martin Salinas, who had 60 points in the last two games and set a school single-game scoring record on Saturday with 40, was held to just 2 points.

Hardin-Simmons got 14 points from Tanner Kudrna, 10 of which he scored during the Cowboys' final run in the game's final minutes.

UTD is off the rest of the week and returns to action next Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 6-7, with games at Texas Lutheran and Schreiner Universities.


>>11.26.05
Salinas' Record-Setting Performance Still Not Enough As McM Rallies Late
McMurry 91, UTD 88

Junior guard Martin Salinas set a UTD single-game record Saturday by scoring 40 points in the Comets' home opener, but the University of Texas at Dallas men's basketball team gave up a late McMurry rally as the Indians slipped past UTD, 91-88.

Salinas hit 12-of-20 shots from the floor, including five three-point shots, and added 11 free throws to break a 34-point record set by Bryon Harrison back in 1999. Still, he and his teammates came up short in the American Southwest Conference opener for both teams.

The Comets held the defending ASC West champion Indians to a 37% shooting day (while hitting over 50 percent of their own shots), but the Indians (2-1, 1-0) fired up 73 field goal attempts and took advantage of 31-of-34 free throw shooting to doom the Comets, who fell to 0-4, 0-1 in conference.

UTD also turned the ball over 17 times, including a trio of miscues midway through the second period that allowed the Indians to put together a 19-2 run that turned a 59-49 UTD advantage into a 68-61 McMurry lead. The Comets eventually rallied to tie the score at 85-85 with 1:18 left. But that's when the tables turned the Indians' way.

With the score tied at 85-85 inside the final minute, the Comets missed a chance at the lead when a Tyrone Hurt inside shot rattled off the iron. McMurry quickly took the ball the other way and Elijah Bryant hit his only first 3-point shot of the game to give the Indians an 88-85 lead with just :37 left. On the ensuing possession, UTD got three consecutive opportunities to tie the game before an inside pass from Travis Carruthers was intercepted. After the Indians hit a pair of free throws with :10 left to go up by five (90-85), Salinas hit his final shot of the game to pull to within a pair. A missed McMurry free throw gave the Comets a chance, but they could not get a shot off against the Indian press defense.

In addition to Salinas, Kersh Milson finished with 15 points and had 10 rebounds for a double-double. Jay Swafford added 11 points, but was only 1-of-8 from beyond the arch.

UTD will next host Hardin-Simmons (1-2, 0-1), a 75-65 loser to UT-Tyler on Saturday, Monday night at 7:30 pm. Both teams will be looking for their first ASC win of the season.


>>11.23.05
Overmatched Comets Give Div. I
UT-Arlington All It Can Handle
UT-Arlington 84, UTD 74

ARLINGTON, TX - Someone forgot to tell the UTD men's basketball team it probably didn't belong on the same court as NCAA Division I UT-Arlington Wednesday night. The Comets (0-3) put together an impressive showing against the more athletic and physical Mavericks before falling by just 10 points, 84-74.

The Division III Comets did not back down at all against the physically impressive UTA squad, which was coming off a game against the University of Miami and will play nationally-ranked University of Texas next month. The Comets kept the game close throughout with lights-out shooting (hitting over 64% - 29 of 45 - from the floor) and nailing 11 of 22 three-point attempts.

Martin Salinas paced UTD with 20 points, connecting on 5 of 11 threes while Jay Swafford (above right) continued his torid, early-season pace with a 17-point night, which included three long-range buckets. The pair have combined for 29 three-point shots and are both averaging over 15 points per game through the first three outings.

UTA was able to overmatch the Comets inside, where they forced UTD into 20 fouls that translated into 17 points from the free-throw line. The Mavericks' pressing defense also coerced the Comets into 18 turnovers, many of which were converted into quick inside baskets.

UTD actually put a scare into UTA early, jumping out to an early lead with some crisp offensive basketball. Twelve minutes into the game, the score was still tied at 24-24 with the Comets missing just twice in 11 attempts from the field. UTD cut the Maverick lead to just one (32-33) with 3:10 left on a Tyrone Hurt lay-in, but the Mavericks began pressing and got six quick points off turnovers in a one-minute span before the half to go up, 42-37, at the half.

After Salinas cut the lead to four (44-40) early in the second period, UTA went on a 16-5 run to create a 15-point cushion (60-45) with 14 minutes remaining. But the Comets tightened up and didn't let things get out of control. UTD actually outscored the Mavs in the remainder of the contest, 29-24, to get the game to its final 10-point margin.

UTD, which has faced the nation's top-ranked Division III team and a Division I opponent in its first three, opens American Southwest Conference play this weekend against McMurry (Saturday 3 pm) and Hardin-Simmons (Monday 7:30 pm).


>>11.18.05
Comets Can't Hold Down
Top-Ranked Team In Opener
No. 1 Illinois Wesleyan 71, UTD 58
Consolation Game: Alma 71, UTD 69

CRAWFORDSVILLE, IN - The University of Texas at Dallas men's basketball team had its hands full with its 2005-06 season opener Friday night, facing top-ranked Illinois Wesleyan in its season opener at Alma College's Little Giant Tipoff Classic. The Comets held their own, but let IWU get away from them with a late first-half rally and dropped the opener, 71-58.

UTD then let the host Alma squad get ahead in the consolation game, rallied to tie the score with 29 seconds left, then fell on a shot with :04 on the clock, 71-69.

Martin Salinas got 31 points to lead the Comets in the two games and was named to the all-tournament team. Jay Swafford had 30 points in the tournament, including 19 against Alma.

>>IWU 71, UTD 58

UTD got into a hole by shooting just 28.6% in the first half despite holding an early lead. The Comets actually caught up to IWU with 5:33 to go before the half and took an 18-16 advantage, but IWU finished with a 14-2 run to move out to a 10-point, 30-20, halftime lead.

UTD got a quick run from Salinas and Milson to open the second period and pulled to within 30-25, before IWU began running away again. The Comets trailed by 13 (62-49) in the game's final minutes, but got some late three-point shots out of Jay Swafford and Salinas to keep it close. Things could have to uglier for UTD in the second half, but the Comets kept things within reach, hitting 43.3 percent of their shots.

UTD did hit just 8 of 23 three-point attempts in the game. The Comets were also out-rebounded, 41-34, by the larger IWU squad. IWU also gained an advantage at the foul line, hitting 16 of 17 free throws.

>>ALMA 71, UTD 69

The Comets shot over 53 percent (26 of 49) to hang with Alma throughout the game, but again found themselves trailing at halftime, 40-30, after a late first-half run by Alma.

UTD went on a 12-4 run to open the second period and Adam Bush brought the Comets to within a pair (42-44) at the 15:45 mark. Again, Alma created some space, and the Comets rallied. With 6:58 to go, a Bush free throw made it 56-58; but Alma was abile to build a 68-61 advantage with just 2::58 remaining.

Swafford nailed a three-pointer with :29 seconds remaining as the Comets rallied to tie the score at 69-69 until Mark Barnes, one of three Alma players in double figures, hit the game-winner with :04 on the clock.

UTD is off until next weekend when they open American Southwest Conference play against McMurry and Hardin-Simmons at home.


>>2005-06 MEN'S BASKETBALL PREVIEW
Comets Used To Teams
Taking Them Lightly
UTD Not Ready To Give Up Cinderlla Role
Once again, there are a lot of questions surrounding the prospects for the 2005-06 University of Texas at Dallas men’s basketball team.

Coach Terry Butterfield’s team lost heavily from the Cinderella squad that shocked the American Southwest Conference last season by winning the 2004-05 championship, and he’s really not sure what to expect from the reinforcements. And, judging from the opinions expressed by the league’s other coaches in the ASC Pre-Season Poll, the competition isn’t expecting much, either. The Comets were tabbed to finish no better than fourth in the ASC East Division.

Stop us if you’ve heard all this before.

For the last two seasons, no one has expected much out of the UTD program. No flashy individual superstars or lofty pre-season predictions either year. But all the Comets have done during that span is come on strong near the end of each season, and win just enough games to claim an ASC East Division co-championship in 2003-04, then the afore-mentioned 2004-05 league title.

The question is, do they have what it takes to do it again in 2005-06?

On paper, the answer doesn’t look all that encouraging. The Comets have three starters back from last year’s team, but must find replacements for a pair of key losses. Gone are two-time team offensive leader Jason Malone (13.4 ppg, 3.0 rb), and center Eric Chatham (7.6 ppg, 6.1 rb), a four-year inside presence. To duplicate the success of the past, they’ll need to find new sources for production on both sides of the ball.

“We’re going to miss those guys, no doubt about it,” says sixth-year head coach Terry Butterfield. “They were integral parts of our program, and our success. But I’m hoping we have enough experience and talent in the guys who are coming back to offset that loss.”
Butterfield will be counting heavily on returning shooting guard Martin Salinas, who nailed a school-record 85 three-pointers while building a 14.0-point per game average last season; and senior forward/post Kersh Milson, who averaged 12.4 points and 5.4 rebounds in his first season with the Comets.

“Those two are going to have to be a presence this year, and they are going to have to be accepting of that responsibility,” the coach explains. “We’ll need them to be even more productive for us to be successful.”

The Comets also need a couple of returning reserve inside players – juniors Tyrone Hurt (4.3 ppg, 3.7 rb) and Adam Bush (6.0 ppg, 3.5 rb) – “to step up and give us some great inside play. We need to be able to count on these guys to become frontline players who we can count on to be productive each night,” the coach says.

And, Butterfield badly needs junior Travis Carruthers (80 assists) to continue improving at the pace he set last year at the point guard position, where there is very little experienced help.
The Comets coach is also keeping his fingers crossed that Malone’s scoring presence can be picked up by newcomer Mike McKee, who missed all last season with an injury. A 6-2 sophomore transfer originally from Houston, McKee, “is bigger than Malone and probably a better rebounder,” Butterfield says. “If he can stay healthy, he’ll be a factor.”

Butterfield is also is expecting some solid reserve help from a pair of Houston-area freshmen – forward Rob Friedrich and guard Ernest Lowery - who both played on state championship teams during their high school careers. Outside scoring threat Jay Swafford is also back for his senior year.

“I think we’ve improved our team from an athleticism standpoint,” Butterfield says. “And, I think we’ve got a good shooting team – particularly from the perimeter. My biggest concern is that we are probably a bit undersized inside. Our ability to stop other people and get rebounds is going to fall hard into the laps of the guys we have.”

No matter how well things gel for the Comets, they still have a steep hill to climb to get off to a fast start. The team opens the season against the nation’s top-ranked Division III team, Illinois Wesleyan, at a tournament in Indiana, and meets Division I UT-Arlington in the first week of the season. UTD then opens ASC play the following weekend against two West Division powers in McMurry and Hardin-Simmons. That doesn’t even take into account two second-half encounters with Mississippi College, a team that has its entire starting lineup back and is ranked #2 nationally in some publications.

“The whole league has gotten better,” Butterfield explains. “Our job will be to not give up and quit early in the year when we face some tough opponents.”

Fortunately, that’s something the Comets have gained plenty of experience in doing each of the last two seasons – winning the games late in the season that count. After starting last year at 5-10, the Comets won 10 of their last 14 games, including seven of their last eight, to advance to the ASC Tournament – a tournament in which three upset victories earned a league title and a trip to the NCAA Division III national playoffs.

“I’d rather find a way to put ourselves in a better position early and not have to be quite so dramatic late in the year,” says Butterfield. “But if things don’t go the way we want them early, I don’t this group getting down on itself. They’ve learned what can happen if you keep working and never give up.”