BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men's basketball team fell 91-75 to the University of Texas at Dallas Saturday afternoon in Belton. Both teams evened to 7-6 on the season and 3-2 in American Southwest Conference after the game. 

Both teams hit game-opening field goals before Josiah Johnson gave the Cru a lead with a four-point play. The Comets cut the gap to one with a three-pointer on their next shot but Payton Brooks responded for the Cru, giving UMHB a three-point margin. UT Dallas was persistent in response and eventually took a 14-13 lead with 15:02 left in the first half. 

Zach Engels made a pair of foul shots to put the Cru back on top before the Comets went on a six-point run to take a 20-15 lead. UMHB tied the contest twice and eventually regained the lead with 3:10 left in the frame off a fast break from Johnson. UMHB held on to that margin, going into the second half up 43-39. 

Engels led the Cru with 13 points while Eli Beard added 11 and Josiah Johnson put up 10. Johnson also had first-half highs in rebounds (five) and assists (four). 
The second half opened in one-possession play until the 16:18 mark when UTD hit a field goal for a five-point lead. The Comets extended that lead to double-digits with 12:24 to play, leading by as many as 19 points in the frame. UMHB was unable to overcome the margin, falling 91-75 to UT Dallas. 

Zach Engels led the Cru with 23 points while Josiah Johnson added 20 and Eli Beard had 17. UMHB shot 37.9 percent in the contest with 20 points off the bench and 18 points in the paint. Johnson and Engels both recorded a team-high six rebounds while Johnson also added a team-high eight assists and Kyle Wright recorded two steals. 

UT Dallas shot 53.1 percent in the contest, led by Rob Wade with 17 points. UMHB outrebounded the Comets 38-25, forcing 11 total turnovers in the game. 

UMHB returns to action on Thursday, January 11th in a 7:30 p.m. contest at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. The Cru closes the trip with a 3 p.m. contest on Saturday, January 13th at McMurry University.