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

Junior guard Martin Salinas (right) 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.

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