01.26.08
Comets Win Nailbiters To Stay In Race
UTD Edges LeTourneau, ETBU To Keep Pace With Mississippi College
RICHARDSON, TX - The UTD men's basketball team dodged a couple of bullets, and hung on for a pair of victories this weekend that kept the Comets within a game of the American Southwest Conference East Division lead.
UTD slipped past LeTourneau, 66-63, Thursday night; then gave up a good-sized lead before taking ETBU in overtime, 75-70, on Saturday.
Scott Rodgers (pictured) had a 30 point weekend, leading the Comets with 18 points against ETBU, and hitting a big three-pointer in overtime.
UTD, which improved to 13-4 and 9-3 in converence to stay one game behind East leader Mississippi College, hosts UT-Tyler Monday night.
The Comets made things as difficult on themselves as possible in the road win over LeTourneau. UTD shot just 37.7 percent (23-of-61) from the field, turned the ball over 18 times and failed to convert on at least two easy possessions late in the game that could have put the game out of reach. UTD did, however, get 13 points from Temaine Wright, including seven at the free-throw line. Four of his foul shots came in the game's final :18 and helped ice the win for UTD.
The Comets held a four-point, 61-57 lead inside of a minute and broke the LETU full-court press twice, seemingly on the way to an easy layup. Rodgers' first attempt, though, was blocked at the rim; then seconds later Jordan Eppink missed a point-blank layup that could have stretched the lead again. But the YellowJackets came up empty themselves, misfiring on several late game-tying attempts and were forced to send Wright to the line where he finally put the game away.
UTD 75, EAST TEXAS BAPTIST 70 (OT)
UTD's luck held firm Saturday, as well; but this time it was the opponent which missed a point-blank shot that could have won the game with seconds left. With the score tied at 63-63 in regulation and ETBU with the ball, the Tigers (6-11, 6-6) fired up a three-point attempt with :02 left. ETBU's Josh Chambers grabbed the rebound at the glass and had an easy tip-in that would have been the deciding basket, but the ball bounced over the rim.
UTD then grabbed the lead for good in overtime when Rodgers nailed a three to put UTD up 68-66. After the score was tied again, Brandon Greene followed with another three and a key defensive rebound from Rodgers with 1:22 left. ETBU trimmed the lead to one (71-70), but had to send Ernie Lowery and Paul Chapinduka to the line, where they nailed four free throws in the final :12 to clinch the win.
The Comets had raced out to an early lead of as many as 14 points, but led just 33-25 at halftime. ETBU battled back and took its first lead with 1:58 left in regulation, then was up 63-60 with 1:07 remaining. Greene hit a clutch three with :31 remaining before the Tigers missed the potential game-winner as time expired.