Box Score

AUSTIN, Texas – HARLEY NUSSMAN scored 18 points and pulled down seven rebounds in his Hilltopper debut as St. Edward's defeated Texas A&M-Commerce, 75-70, Friday evening at the Recreation and Convocation Center. The victory was part of day one of the St. Edward's Shootout.
 
Texas A&M-Commerce (0-1) opened the game on a 13-4 run in the first six minutes of action.  Andrew Smith led the way with four points during the opening stanza.
 
St. Edward's (1-0) pulled closer with a three-pointer by JOSEPH SALDANA and a bucket from TYLER FOSTER. That brought the Hilltoppers to within, 13-9.
 
The Hilltoppers then turned up the heat, going on a 16-6 run over the next five minutes to take a 25-19 advantage with 8:45 on the clock. JEFF CAMPBELL scored five points during the run and Nussman added four, which included a thunderous dunk.
 
The Lions would cut the lead to 30-26, with 6:04 remaining in the first half, but two buckets from Nussman and another trey from Saldana pushed the lead out to 37-26, with 4:25 left.
 
Tyrie Wooten would notch five points as part of an 8-0 run to cut the lead to 37-34, with just under three minutes remaining. Eight points by Campbell and a tip-in at the buzzer by TYLER FOSTER helped the Hilltoppers close out the half on an 11-2 run. That would give them a 12-point lead at the intermission.
 
In the second half, SHIMEEK JOHNSON would heat up with two treys and a layup by JAMES STUKES at the 15:44 mark gave St. Edward's its largest lead of the night, 60-42.
 
TAMU-Commerce then went to work as it whittled the Hilltopper lead all of the way to two points with 6:17 remaining. Back-to-back layups by Campbell and Nussman pushed the lead to 70-64, with 4:17 left. The Lions would get no closer than four points from there on out.
 
Nussman was 9-of-14 from the field and also picked up three blocks and two steals in 24 minutes of action. Campbell finished with 15 points and eight rebounds, while ZILIJAN JONES added nine points, four assists and three steals.
 
Davis led the Lions with a double-double, collecting 13 points and 11 rebounds. Both Wooten and Stefon Carson added 11 points and Kenny Brown chipped in with 10 points.
 
St. Edward's will be back in action Saturday for day two of the SEU Shootout. They will take on Incarnate Word at 8:30 p.m. at the Recreation and Convocation Center. The Cardinals defeated UT-Permian Basin Friday afternoon, 80-77. This sets up an unofficial championship game with the Cardinals. Live Video and Stats for all tournament games will be available on the Hilltopper Athletic Website.