>>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 (right) 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.

BOXSCORES: ILL WESLEYAN | ALMA