The UT Dallas men's basketball team aims to hoist the American Southwest Conference championship trophy for the first time in five years when it hosts the 2014 ASC Men's Basketball Tournament this weekend.
The No. 1 seed Comets (22-3) open this year's tourney against No. 8 seed East Texas Baptist University (11-14) at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Activity Center. Students can present their valid Comet Cards for free admission to tournament games.
Head coach Terry Butterfield, in his 14th year at the helm, has guided the Comets to the postseason for the 11th straight season. They advanced to the semifinals each of the past five years and played in three title games. UT Dallas claimed the ASC championship in 2005 and 2009.
The Comets recorded the best-ever start to a season this year, going 15-1 before suffering their second loss. That stretch included the fourth 10-game winning streak in the program's 16-year history. Ranked 20th in the nation, the team is currently ranked No. 4 in the latest NCAA Division III South Region Poll.
Friday's first round opens at noon, when No. 3 seed Mary Hardin-Baylor (17-8) faces No. 6 seed Louisiana College (11-13). At 2:30 p.m., No. 2 seed Hardin-Simmons (17-8) will play No. 7 seed Sul Ross State (11-14). At 5 p.m., No. 4 seed Concordia University Texas (16-9) will face No. 5 seed UT Tyler (14-11).
Saturday's semifinals are scheduled for 1 and 3:30 p.m. with Sunday's title game slated for 2 p.m. The winner of the ASC Tournament will receive an automatic berth into the NCAA D-III National Tournament.
