Box Score FORT SMITH, Ark. – The St. Edward's men's basketball team held tight with Heartland Conference rival Arkansas-Fort Smith, but couldn't hit the big bucket as they lost to the Lions, 77-72, Saturday afternoon at the Stubblefield Center. The loss drops the Hilltoppers to a 7-10 overall record and 3-6 in league play. They are now three games back of the final playoff spot with nine games remaining.
UA Fort Smith (14-3, 7-2 HC) opened the game on a 10-4 run in the first four minutes. Both Xavier McClish and Seth Youngblood had three points during the opening stanza.
St. Edward's answered with a 12-2 run over the next five minutes to retake the lead, 16-12, with 11:33 left in the first half.
JAMES STUKES had the hot had as he canned four-straight buckets during the run for eight points.
RAMIR BURTON added four points to help the cause.
In a back-and-forth game, the Lions retook the lead over the next five minutes, led by Kenny Martin's six points. Martin helped the home team on a 17-6 run that gave them a 29-22 lead with 6:41 on the clock.
Stukes was at it again; scoring four points during a run that saw the Hilltoppers take a 37-33 lead. St. Edward's also had treys from
JOHN GRAMLICH,
JOHN RUTHERFORD and
JAE RICKETTS. The Lions cut the lead to 37-35 down the stretch to reduce the St. Edward's lead at the break to two.
In the second half, St. Edward's owned the first 10 minutes.
HARLEY NUSSMAN and Gramlich each scored eight points in the first half of the second frame to give the Hilltoppers a 56-46 lead with 10:01 remaining in the contest.
Jake Toupal answered for UA Fort Smith, by scoring 11 points over the next five minutes to give the lead back to the Lions, 66-63, with 4:54 left.
The Hilltoppers kept the game within striking distance the rest of the way. The Lions made 7-of-10 free throws in the last stanza that gave St. Edward's a chance. Burton's trey with one second left gave them slim hope, but two free throws from Toupal iced the game for the Lions.
Stukes led the Hilltoppers with 22 points and 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Both Burton and Gramlich tallied 15 points, while Nussman finished with 10 rebounds and eight points.
ETHAN GILBERT led the visitors with four assists.
St. Edward's will be back in action Thursday when they host Heartland Conference rival Dallas Baptist. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Recreation and Convocation Center. Live video and stats will be available on the Hilltopper Athletic Website.
