ABILENE, Texas -- The LeTourneau men's basketball team trimmed a 14-point deficit with eight minutes left down to two with under a minute remaining, but the No. 3 seeded YellowJackets could not complete the comeback in a 93-85 loss to No. 2 seed UT Dallas in the ASC Tournament semifinals on Friday night in Abilene.
LeTourneau ends the year with a 17-10 record, its seventh winning season in the last eight years. UT Dallas (17-9) moves on to face No. 4 seed Mary Hardin-Baylor in the championship on Saturday night.
Caedmon Liebengood had 24 points, six rebounds, and three assists to lead the way.
Walker Blaine totaled 20 points and six rebounds, while
Christian Adams posted 10 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
LeTourneau led 10-4 early on after a
Teigan Edwards steal and layup made it a six-point YellowJacket lead in the first two minutes. Edwards finished with nine points and four assists on the night.
UT Dallas answered with a 12-0 run over the next three-plus minutes and the Comets would never trail again. The margin stretched to 16 (36-20) with seven minutes left in the first half, but LeTourneau got back within 12 (49-37) at the break after a Blaine layup with 33 seconds left.
In the second half, the YellowJackets cut the deficit to 55-52 after back-to-back fastbreak layups from Liebengood and Adams with 16:13 left.
UT Dallas methodically stretched the margin back to 14 with 7:55 left.
LeTourneau had one last push, though.
An Edwards 3-pointer kick-started a 17-6 run for the YellowJackets over four minutes and a Blaine 3-pointer brought LeTourneau within 85-82 with three minutes left.
Blaine connected on another 3-pointer after a UT Dallas bucket to get within two (87-85) with 2:33 remaining.
LeTourneau got back-to-back defensive stops, but could not tie or take the lead on its next two possessions. UT Dallas hit all six free throws it took over the final 18 seconds to seal the win.
Jackson Mayes and
Alex Ferrell added eight points each for the YellowJackets.
LeTourneau shot a season-best 61.1 percent (33-of-54) from the field and hit 11 3-pointers and 8-of-11 at the line
Austin Page led the Comets with 25 points. UT Dallas hit 49.2 percent (30-of-61) from the floor with nine 3-pointers and 24-of-34 at the foul line.
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