The Comets won 99-63 against McMurry University. Photo by Pavan Tauh | Mercury Staff.
Team brings home championship victory for first time since 2014 season
The men’s
basketball team became four-time ASC champions after taking home an 88-74
victory against Hardin-Simmons University in the final game of the conference.
The Comets
competed in three games from Feb. 21-23, where they earned double-digit wins
against McMurry University, Concordia University-Texas and Hardin Simmons. The
victories mark the first time since 2014 that men’s basketball has taken the
title and hosted the tournament.
The Comets’
first game of the tournament saw the team trailing behind McMurry, who had an
eight-point lead by halftime, leaving the score at 39-31 until the Comets made
a comeback in the second half for a final score of 99-63. Junior guard
Dimitrius Underwood finished with eight rebounds in the second half of the
game, earning himself a double-double with a total of 10 rebounds and 19 points
for the game. Sophomore forward Michael Forster followed closely behind
Underwood, earning 13 points for the team in the second half, with a total of
18 points for the game. The Comets also saw a jump in their three pointers
after going 0-for-8 in the first half, and their free throw percentage
increased to 81 percent in the second half for a quarterfinal victory.
Head coach
Terry Butterfield said going into the remainder of the Comets’ conference
games, the team would decide how the season would turn out.
“This is a
special moment when the team has a chance to compete for the conference
championship, so it’s really up to the players to rise to the occasion to do
the things that we need to do to be successful,” Butterfield said. “The longer
I’m in coaching, the more I realize that it’s all about the will of the team,
and I think we showed a strong will in the second half tonight, and I think
that this ride is all up to them.”
The Comets
earned another second half win against Concordia, where a jump in three
pointers and free throws pushed the team to an 88-69 win. Junior guard Jalen
Weber led the first half with 12 points and five assists. The team held a tight
40-38 lead at halftime. Forster led the second half with 16 points. Underwood
finished the second half with eight rebounds, earning another double-double
with 15 total rebounds and 21 points for the game. Weber and Forster also led
with points, earning 24 and 22 for the game, respectively.
During the
tournament, Underwood broke UTD’s single-season scoring and rebound records,
earning 593 points and 279 rebounds. Both records were previously held by
former forward Kyle Schleigh in the 2012-2013 season, where he earned 578
points and 266 rebounds. Underwood said he attributes these achievements to his
teammates.
“The floor
has so much more space when you’ve got guys who can knock down shots and make
plays,” Underwood said. “They really make the game easier for me and it just
comes naturally.”
The Comets
faced off against Hardin-Simmons for the championship game, where UTD ended the
first half with a six-point lead for a score of 38-32 at halftime. Underwood
led the game with 24 points and 10 rebounds, earning himself a double-double in
all three games of the tournament, a feat that earned him Most Valuable Player
after the team’s win. Underwood and Weber each went 6-for-6 in free throws in
the second half, where the team made 22 out of 24 free throws. The team scored
50 points in the second half for a final score of 88-74.
Heading into
the team’s second match with Concordia, Butterfield said win or lose, he hoped
the players would enjoy their time on the court.
“Working
hard together toward a common goal is the essence of team sports, and I love
the heart and the character of our guys. They’re not only great students,
they’re great athletes — they’ve got great priorities, they’re a lot of fun to
be around.” Butterfield said. “I want our guys to really embrace the moment and
enjoy the experience they’re having together because not everybody has this.”
With the
team hosting for the first time in five years and claiming a double-digit
victory, Butterfield said the support from friends and family in the stands
helped motivate the players.
“(The
players) want to be under the bright lights, they want to be in front of people
— that’s how they see themselves,” Butterfield said. “They all want to be
champions, and there’s a golden opportunity that lies ahead of them, and I
think to be able to lift a trophy and cut a net would be the thrill of a
lifetime for these guys.”
Additional
reporting by Dulce Espinoza