HOUSTON, Texas – SHIMEEK JOHNSON scored a game-high 21 points but that was not enough as St. Edward's fell to NCAA Division I Rice, 75-63, Wednesday evening in an exhibition contest at Tudor Fieldhouse.
 
St. Edward's started off the game hot from the field, as they would hit five of its first seven shots. That spurt would give the Hilltoppers a 13-10 with 15:08 remaining in the opening half. St. Edward's would can three shots from downtown with JEFF CAMPBELL hitting two and SHIMEEK JOHNSON adding another.
 
The Hilltoppers would extend their lead to 17-13 at the 11:29 mark of the first half. The Hilltoppers got all four of its points during the stanza on offensive rebounds and putbacks by Frankie MgBolu and TYLER FOSTER.
 
A layup and three-pointer by Johnson, and ensuing layup by JAMES STUKES gave St. Edward's its largest lead, 24-13, with 9:36 left in the half.
 
The Hilltoppers continued to hold the lead down the stretch, gaining a 26-15 advantage on a jumper by HARLEY NUSSMAN, but a three-pointer by Rice's Austin Ramljak and jumper by Keith Washington cut the lead to six with 8:05 remaining.
 
Rice (1-1) then started to make its way to the free-throw line, slowly creeping its way back into the game. After a jumper by CHRIS WACKER made it 30-20, in favor of the Hilltoppers, Rice would go on an 18-2 run to close out the half. The Owls were helped by the whistle, as they would hit go to line and hit 9-of-10 to take a 38-32 lead at the break.
 
Johnson led all scorers in the first half, as he was 5-of-8 from the field for 11 points. The Hilltoppers, who started off with great shooting, ended up making just 37 percent from the field and only went to the free throw line once.
 
In the second half, Rice would come out on an 11-3 run in the first five minutes of action. The run was capped off by a three-point play by Washington at the 14:56 mark, making the Owl lead 49-33.
 
St. Edward's would battle back using a 13-1 run over the next six minutes to cut the Rice lead to 50-41, with 8:34 on the clock. QUINTON LILLEY had four points off of the bench during the run, while Johnson capped it off with another shot from downtown.
 
A jumper by Ross Wilson with 7:58 pushed the Owl lead back to six. After a Hilltopper foul, the Owls made two free throws and Johnson was whistled for a technical foul. That would give Rice two more free throws and extend its lead out to 10 points.
The Owl lead would hover around the 10-point mark for the next five minutes until St. Edward's made a late push. Down by 11 with 2:17 remaining, Johnson would hit a free throw. Rice would then turn the ball over and ZILIJAN JONES would hit a trey on the other end to cut the lead to 67-60. After two free throws by Rice, Johnson would nail another three and cut the lead to six, with 1:16 on the clock.
 
However, Rice would hit 6-of-8 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
 
Johnson finished 8-of-17 from the field and 4-for-7 from behind the three-point line. Campbell ended the night with seven points and three steals, while JAMES STUKES led the Hilltoppers with eight rebounds.
 
St. Edward's will be back in action Saturday when they travel to take on Harding. Tip-off set for 5 p.m. at the Rhodes Field House in Searcy, Ark. Live Video and Stats will be available on the Bison Athletic Website.