RICHARDSON, Texas -- Down by 12 in the second half, the LeTourneau men's basketball team rallied and took a five-point lead late in the game but came up short in a 72-70 loss at UT Dallas in ASC action on Thursday night.

Deonte Jackson had 27 points to lead LeTourneau (11-13, 8-9 ASC) as the YellowJackets fell just short for a second time this season against UT Dallas (20-4, 15-2 ASC). Jackson went 10-of-12 from the free throw line and dished out a team-best five assists. Warren Richardson added his seventh double-double of the year with 20 points and 12 rebounds to go with five steals.

It was a tale of two halves for LeTourneau.

In the first half, UT Dallas controlled the game and built a 28-14 lead with 5:48 left in the period. The host Comets connected on 53.6 percent from the field in the half and took a 38-26 lead into the break.

UT Dallas still held a 12-point lead after Kyle Poerschke made a layup with under 16 minutes left that gave the Comets a 49-37 lead. Poerschke finished with 27 points to lead UT Dallas.

LeTourneau answered with a 17-2 scoring run over the next five-plus minutes. Christian Adams hit two 3-pointers during the stretch, including a triple that gave LeTourneau a 54-51 lead with 9:53 to go, and the defense turned over UT Dallas five times and held the Comets to one made field goal in the run.

Caedmon Liebengood earned a conventional three-point play to even the score at 51 before Adams' triple gave the YellowJackets the lead for the first time moments later.

LeTourneau extended the margin to five (61-56) after a Richardson bucket with 6:18 remaining before UT Dallas rallied. The teams traded ties and lead changes over the final minutes.

Jackson made a driving layup with 50 seconds left to give LeTourneau a 69-68 lead. Luke Kiser gave the lead back to the Comets with his long jumper with 32 seconds left and UT Dallas hit two free throws on its ensuing possession to go ahead 72-69 with 16 seconds left.

Down to its final chance, Jackson missed a 3-point attempt but Walker Blaine stole the rebound from Poerschke with five seconds left. Blaine quickly found Jackson in the corner for another 3-pointer and the junior was fouled on his attempt.

At the line for three, Jackson made the first but missed the second (after starting 10-for-10 at the line in the contest). Forced to miss the third, Jackson missed it perfectly and Richardson grabbed the rebound and got off a shot from short range, but it fell off the mark as time expired.

Adams added 10 points and seven rebounds, while Liebengood chipped in seven points. LeTourneau shot 44.8 percent (26-of-58) for the game and outrebounded the Comets 40-34.

Poerschke had 27 to lead UT Dallas as the Comets connected on 44.1 percent (26-of-59) from the field.

UP NEXT

LeTourneau concludes the regular season on Saturday at Ozarks (3 p.m.).