Box Score
Post-game Interview - Andre Cook

AUSTIN, Texas – JEFF CAMPBELL reached double figures for the third-straight game as he scored 16 points to lead St. Edward's to a much-needed win over Dallas Baptist, 75-68, Thursday evening at the Recreation and Convocation Center.
 
Dallas Baptist (5-8, 2-3 HC) started off the game red hot, going on a 12-3 run in the first five minutes of action. Nick Fox scored eight of the points as he hit his first three shots from the field and canned two free throws.
 
After a jumper by JAMES STUKES cut the lead to seven, Frankie MgBolu then went to work for the home team, scoring three-straight buckets. St. Edward's (11-7, 1-2 HC) used the 8-0 run to reduce the deficit to 12-11, with 13:02 remaining.
 
Two free throws by Fox, a jumper by Charles Allen and a three pointer from Russ Johnson paced the Patriots to seven-straight points and a 19-11 advantage with 11:14 on the clock.
 
That is when the bench went to work for the Hilltoppers and the defense turned up the pressure. Over the next five minutes, CONNER KJER, HARLEY NUSSMAN and ZILIJAN JONES all made key buckets and the Hilltoppers forced the Patriots into five turnovers. When it was all said and done, St. Edward's had produced a 20-4 run to take an eight-point lead of its own, 31-23, with 6:32 left in the opening half. Campbell was also key during the stretch, scoring the final five points of the run, which included a trey.
 
“Jeff is a senior, and his days playing college basketball are winding down,” head coach Andre Cook said. “I think you start to see you don't have many games left. He realized that and is pushing full throttle to finish up his career the right way.”
 
Dallas Baptist would close the gap before the half, ending it on an 11-6 run, to make the score at the break, 37-34 Hilltoppers.
 
In the second half, SHIMEEK JOHNSON opened with a three pointer to put St. Edward's ahead by five, but Allen would answer with a three of his own and Fox made a free throw to cut the lead to two points. That is when the Hilltoppers took over the game.
 
Back-to-back three pointers by Johnson and Campbell increased the lead to eight points. After a three-point play by Dallas Baptist, another trey by Kjer and layups from Nussman and MgBolu saw the home-team advantage swell to 12 points, 55-43, with 15:34 left in the contest. Another three-pointer by Campbell at the 8:53 mark gave St. Edward's its largest lead of the game at 66-50.
 
Down by 14 points with 5:18 left in the game, Dallas Baptist would not go away quietly as the Patriots got three free throws and two shots from downtown to score nine-straight and cut the lead to five points with 1:23 remaining. St. Edward's would make 5-of-6 from the charity stripe to keep the Patriots in the rearview mirror.
 
“We are happy about the win,” Cook said. “That game should not have been close at the end. However, I will take an ugly win over a pretty loss any day.”
 
Campbell was 6-of-10 from the floor, while also hitting three shots from behind the arc. Johnson chipped in with 15 points and a team-high four assists. The bench was key for St. Edward's as they contributed 26 points. Nussman tallied eight points and five rebounds, while Jones added five points and three steals. Kjer registered nine points and a team-high four steals.
 
Fox led the Patriots with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Jonathan Perry scored 11 points, while Allen added nine points and eight rebounds.
 
St. Edward's will be back in action Saturday when they host Heartland Conference newcomer Oklahoma Christian. The game will be a non-conference contest as the Eagles are in their provisional year in the conference. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Recreation and Convocation Center. Live Video and stats will be available on the Hilltopper Athletic Website.