Barnes Scores 33 As Comets Hold Off Ozarks, 87-83

CLARKSVILLE, AR (12.18.10) – Junior Chris Barnes scored a career-high 33 points as the UT Dallas men's basketball team held on for an 87-83 road win over Ozarks (Ark.) to open American Southwest Conference East Division play Saturday.

Barnes, a native of San Antonio, tallied the fifth-best single-game total in UTD men's history as his 33 points ranked as the most points scored by a Comet in four seasons. He hit 11-of-17 shots from the field against the Eagles, including 5-of-9 from three-point range, and went 6-of-12 from the foul line. Barnes added a team-best eight rebounds in the victory.

Trailing by three points, 39-36, at the break, the Comets (now 7-2, 5-2 ASC) did not take a lead in the second half until the 12:02 mark when Barnes drained a trey to give UTD a 59-56 advantage. The Comets would extend their lead to six points, 66-60, not two minutes later on a three-pointer by senior Curtis Davis, but the Eagles would battle back. UO would force four ties, inlcuding at 83-83, before the Comets scored the final four points of the game on free throws.

UTD shot 49.2 percent (31-of-63) as a team, hitting 13-of-34 three-pointers (38.2%), but shot just 54.5 percent (12-of-22) from the free-throw line. The Eagles out-rebouneded UTD, 42-24, but the Comets converted 20 UO turnovers into 28 points, proving to be the difference in the game.

Junior point guard Greg Chiasson added a season-best 19 points while Davis added 15 points. Chiasson had a game-high eight assists for the Comets.

The Eagles (now 3-8, 1-6 ASC) got 23 points from Shawn Curtis as he led five UO players in double figures.

The Comets return to action Monday night when they host Stevenson (Md.) in non-conference play. Game time is 7 p.m. at the UTD Activity Center.