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 (pictured) scored in double figures each game, finishing the weekend with 27 points and 10 rebounds.

MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE 62, UTD 58 (boxscore)

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 (boxscore)

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.