BOX SCORE

AUSTIN, Texas -- The Concordia Texas men's basketball team scored 62 points in the first half on the way to a 110-93 home opening victory over UT Dallas on Saturday afternoon.

Joe Neal tied a career-high with 29 points on 12 of 14 shooting as the Tornados scored over a 100 points for the first time since February 20 of last season. Three other CTX players scored in double figures including Rashad Coleman, who finished with 25 points and eight rebounds. The Tornados shot 63 percent from the field, including 57 percent from the three point line, while holding the Comets to 49 percent shooting from the field.

CTX got off to a fast start in the first half as they made five of their first six shots to take a 13-1 lead. UT Dallas did not go quietly though as they climbed back into the game and eventually took a 21-19 lead with just over 12 minutes left in the half. But the Tornados used a 12-0 run later in the half to take a 39-26 lead. CTX would extend their lead during the closing minutes of the half and headed to the locker room with a 62-43 halftime lead.

In the second half, the Tornados started strong once again making five of their first seven shots, including an out-of-bounds ally-oop dunk by Ben Page, to take their largest lead of the game at 76-47. But the Comets roared back with a 24-6 run to cut the deficit to 12 with just under 10 minutes left in the game. Payton Barnes followed up with a couple assists, as he had five for the game, to Neal and Coleman as the Tornados built upon their lead. A Page free throw broke the 100-point threshold for CTX for the first time this season as they went on to win 110-93.

The Tornados move to 3-2 on the season and will take the short trip to Huston-Tillotson on Tuesday, Nov. 29, to face the Rams at 7 p.m.