AUSTIN, Texas - The Concordia Texas men's basketball team opened up the new year with a convincing 80-60 victory over UT-Dallas. Junior guard Donovan Stafford led all scorers with 23 points inside the Concordia Fieldhouse on Thursday.

The score was knotted up at 15-all through the first eight minutes before Luis Gonzalez & Stafford knocked down back-to-back threes for the lead. The Tornados did not look back as they led the rest of the way. Their advantage in the first half grew to as much as 34-25, before taking a 36-30 lead into the intermission.

CTX came out the second half on fire from the field and upped their lead to 59-30 with just over 11 minutes left in the game. UT Dallas made it a single digit game at 64-56 with 5:53 left, but Concordia utilized intense full court pressure to force easy baskets off turnovers to finish the route.

Concordia Texas will now remain at home where they will host the University of the Ozarks this Saturday at 1 p.m.

BOX SCORE STANDOUTS
Donovan Stafford 23 Pts, 4 Reb, 3 Ast
DJ Pigford 14 Pts, 5 Reb, 5 Ast, 2 Stls
Dylen Scales 12 Pts, 6 Ast, 4 Reb, 4 Stls

To keep up to date with everything surrounding the CTX men's basketball program, follow us on social media (@ctxathletics) and visit athletics.concordia.edu