01.28.08
Everything Goes South In 40-Pt. Loss
UT-Tyler Comes Out Smokin', Leaves Comets Behind in 87-47 Win
RICHARDSON, TX - The UTD men's basketball team flirted with history Monday night, but it was not the kind of recognition in the record book it was hoping for.
Faced with an opportunity to stay just one game back in the battle for the American Southwest Conference East Division lead with a win, the Comets came up empty in every facet of the game to fall in a humbling 87-47 loss to UT-Tyler.
The Comets were behind from the outset, scoring just six points in the first 12 minutes of the game and were down 37-17 at the half. In the first period, UTD shot just 32 percent while allowing the Patriots seemingly could not miss a shot. After a brief spurt to open the second half, things went south quickly again after UTD got within 17 (41-24 at 18:04). Within 10 minutes, the Patriots had stretched the lead out to 66-33 with a 25-9 run, then finally called off the dogs with an 83-39 lead with 2:53 on the clock.
A three-point shot by freshman Sean Poe with 1:50 left that got UTD to 42 points was all that kept UTD from setting a new team record in scoring humility (the prior record for fewest points scored was 41 pts. in a 83-41 loss to Incarnate Word in 1999).
Jimmy Witten was the only Comet to finish in double figures with 12 points. He also had eight rebounds. The Comets gave up a 39-30 disadvantage in rebounding, commited 15 turnovers and and allowed the Patriots to score 50 of their 87 points in the paint.
UT-Tyler had entered the game with a 7-10 overall record and were only 6-6 in the ASC, but four of UTT's ASC losses had been by five points or less.