DENVER, Colo. – The Regis University men's basketball team captured their first win of the 2026-27 campaign this evening as they closed out the South Central Regional Crossover with a comeback victory over the UT Dallas Comets by a score of 81-79 at the Regis Field House.
Regis has now won two straight matchups against UT Dallas in the three times they've met with them also beating them last season at home as well.
Both schools now move to 1-1 in their young seasons.
Tonight's game featured a total of seven lead changes and eight ties with Regis leading late in the first half and into the second before making a comeback in the final three minutes of play with a clutch three pointer being the different maker.
The lead initially changed three of those times in the first six minutes of play before UT Dallas managed to get up by seven in roughly the seventh minute play.
They continued to lead by single digits all the way until the 16th minute in the first half with Regis being able to tie the game at 38 apiece.
Both teams finished the final three minutes of the first half scoring five points each with Regis ultimately leading by one at half, 43-42.
The Rangers held their lead for roughly another 10 minutes into the second half but the Comets would make their push as they battled the game back to a tie at 56-56.
Following the tie, the Comets then went on a 7-0 run to change the game, but Regis continued to fight with the margin never reaching double digits.
Upon a nine-point differential with just 4:50 to play, the Rangers made their final move of the night when them capitalizing on a 12-3 run to make it tied once more at 77 apiece with less than 10 seconds remaining in regulation.
A pair of missed layups by both teams kept the game all square with Regis then getting an inbound play on their own end to have the potential game-winning shot.
Using just a quick shot attempt instead of killing the clock, Drake Walker received the inbound pass and laced a corner three-pointer to push the Rangers ahead with this being his third three pointer in the final five minutes of the game.
UT Dallas hit a pair of free throws on an intentional foul by Regis after but were then forced to foul Bryce Bennett in the final second with them falling short after a missed second free throw led to time expiring.
Bennett finished with nearly a triple double in just his second game of his career at Regis as he recorded 18 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
He was complimented by Walker who finished with a career-high 22 points himself, including going 6-for-9 from downtown.
Meto Orji added 10 points on a 5-for-8 shooting performance as the Rangers finished the night with nine different players scoring.
In addition, they shot a staggering 51% from the field while adding a 10-for-22 performance from beyond the arc.
UT Dallas ended the game with five players in double figures but saw themselves be both outshot and outrebounded in the loss.
UP NEXT
The Rangers will be in action next when they host CSU Pueblo this coming Thursday, Nov. 19 for a nonconference matchup. Game time is set for 7 PM.
