>>02.02.06
Late Aerial Assault Helps Comets
Shake Off LETU Challenge
UTD 73, LeTourneau 60

RICHARDSON, TX - The University of Texas at Dallas men's basketball team seemingly couldn't hit a three-point shot in the first half of their Thursday night game against LeTourneau. But after intermission, Jay Swafford and Martin Salinas (right) led the way to a 7-for-11 assault from beyond the arch as UTD pulled away from LeTourneau to claim an important 73-60 ASC East Division win.

The Comets improved to 7-9 in divisional play, and moved ahead of LETU and Louisiana College (a 73-61 loser to second-place Ozarks Thursday). LETU dropped to 6-11 while LC fell to 5-11, two games back of UTD in the race for the final divisional playoff spot.

The UTD/LETU game Thursday was as close as the 25-24 halftime advantage indicated for about three-quarters of the game. After the YellowJackets overcame an early UTD lead to make it a battle before halftime, the two teams continued to trade baskets and leads in the second period.

Working the ball inside and out, the Comets then came up with the big baskets when they needed them most. Holding a 35-33 lead with 15:33 remaining, UTD got a pair of consecutive inside buckets from Kersh Milson (7 points) and Adam Bush (12 points), a pair of Mike McKee free throws to move back to an eight-point advantage (41-33) over the next two minutes.

Swafford then answered three straight LETU baskets with successful three-point shots to keep the YellowJackets at bay (52-41 with 8:21 to go). When LETU cut the lead down to a manageable eight points (54-46) with a three-pointer of its own with 5:50 remaining, Salinas and Swafford hit three straight unanswered three's to put the game out of reach at 63-46 just 1:23 later. LETU never really threatened again.

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