12.29.07
Comets Clamp Down On Luther, 80-35
Defensive Effort Sets UTD Record For Fewest Points Allowed
RADIO BROADCAST: UTD vs. LUTHER
RICHARDSON, TX - The UTD men's basketball team set a new team record for the fewest points allowed in a game Saturday with an 80-35 defensive spectacle against Luther College of Iowa.
The Comets, who improved to 6-3, got at least one bucket from all 16 players on the active roster. Freshman Jimmy Witten (pictured) paced the squad with 13 points in just 22 minutes of playing time.
The UTD defense held the Luther Norse to just 35 percent shooting, forced 24 turnovers and came up with 19 steals. Meanwhile, UTD shot a stellar 59 percent (33-56) themselves from the field and out-rebounded the Norse, 32-25.
The Comets actually trailed 4-3 three minutes into the game, but then went on a 38-13 run to take a 41-17 lead into the dressing room. The lead increased to 40 points (70-30) with 5:11 left when UTD coach Terry Butterfield put in the remaining players from his bench, but the Comet reserves finished out the game on a 10-5 run to get everyone in the scorebook.
The 35 points allowed broke a record for Fewest Points Allowed from a game on Nov. 19, 1999, when UTD defeated Dallas Christian College, 94-39. The 35 points is six points shy of an American Southwest Conference record, but the 55-point margin of victory in the Dallas Christian game is still an ASC record. BOXSCORE