RICHARDSON, Texas - The University of Texas at Dallas men's basketball team held off a late surge by Howard Payne University giving the Yellow Jackets a 79-75 loss in American Southwest Conference play Saturday afternoon.

UT-Dallas jumped out to an early 7-0 lead and went on to shoot 54 percent from the field in the opening half leading 41-32 at halftime over the visiting Yellow Jackets. Howard Payne rallied late nearly erasing a 13-point second-half lead by the Comets.

With five minutes remaining to play, Howard Payne slowly battled back, drawing within single digits with 3:25 left when Khyce Randall used an old-fashion three-point play to cut the Comet lead to nine points, 71-62.

The Yellow Jackets would then use three-pointers from D.J. Gardner and Randall in the final minute of the game to trim the Comet lead to just four points, 77-73. Then with 12 seconds left, HPU cut the lead down to three points on a lay up by Rickey Guillory, but the Comets would seal the game with one of two free throws on UTD's next possession.

Randall had 20 points for the Jackets while Guillory finished with 19 points as the duo accounted for 39 of the Yellow Jackets' 75 points. Guillory also had four assists and four blocks for the Jackets. HPU shot 43.8 percent (28-of-64) from the field, hitting 10-of-25 three-pointers (40%) and were 9-of-10 (90%) from the foul line.

UT-Dallas was led by Noah Hill with a game high 21 points. Kyle Coulter followed with 14 points and Reagan Keogh had 12 points and eight rebounds.

Howard Payne is now 2-9 overall and 0-3 in American Southwest Conference action. UT-Dallas improves to 7-1 overall and 2-0 in league play. The Yellow Jackets will play on Monday at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, AR at 7:30 pm.