Box Score

HONOLULU, HI – HARLEY NUSSMAN scored 19 points and snagged seven rebounds to lead St. Edward's past Oneonta, 68-54 on Tuesday afternoon in Honolulu. The win gives the Hilltoppers its third-straight in Hawaii.
 
St. Edward's (9-6) was first to strike with a lay-up by CHRIS WACKER to give the Hilltoppers a quick 2-0 lead. Oneonta (1-9) responded with a lay-up and three-point basket to take a 5-2 lead just two minutes into the contest.
 
Wacker and TYLER FOSTER combined for 10 points to give St. Edward's its first lead since the opening minute, 12-9 at the 14:39 mark. Nussman would then score six consecutive points to increase the Hilltopper lead, 20-14 at the 11:08 mark.
 
The Red Dragons would cut the lead in half, before both teams experienced a cold-spell from the field. Neither team was able to muster any points during a three-minute stretch. Oneonta broke the scoring drought and found themselves behind by one, 20-19. The Red Dragons took advantage of the Hilltopper shooting woes and took a four-point lead with 6:14 remaining.
 
Wacker made back-to-back buckets to tie the ballgame at 24. The Red Dragons went on a 7-1 run to close out the half and go into the break ahead by six, 33-27.
 
ZILIJAN JONES and Foster opened the second half of play with two buckets decreasing the Hilltopper deficit to two points, 33-31. Each team traded buckets over the next four minutes of play until Nussman gave the Hilltoppers a one-point lead with 11:49 remaining. JOHN RUTHERFORD drained a trey to extend the lead, 43-39.
 
St. Edward's went on an 11-5 run in just three minutes to extend its lead to eight, 55-47. Nussman and Jones connected on lay-up for a 12-point Hilltopper lead. CONNER KJER added to the Hilltopper run knocking down a shot from three-point land with 2:49 remaining. The bucket by Kjer gave St. Edward's its largest lead of the game, 64-49, and sealed the win for the Hilltoppers.
 
Foster contributed 15 points and five rebounds, while Wacker finished the game with eight points and eight rebounds.
 
“Tonight we rested SHIMEEK JOHNSON, JAMES STUKES, and JEFF CAMPBELL,” Head Coach Andre Cook said after the game. “I wanted to give them a break and I also wanted to see other guys play. In the first half we were dreadful. In the second half we picked up our intensity and played much better. I'm happy to be 3-0 in Hawaii, but 4-0 would be much better. We will be tested tomorrow on the road at Hilo.”
 
The Hilltoppers will play their final game in Hawaii on Wednesday as they take on Hawaii-Hilo in the Vulcan Classic. Tip-off is set for 7:00 P.M. in Hilo. Live stats will be available through the Hilltopper website.