Box Score AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's dropped a tough 67-64 decision to Texas A&M-International Thursday evening at the Recreation and Convocation Center.
 
TAMU-International (19-7, 12-4 HC) opened the game on a 12-6 run in the first five minutes of action.  Vadel Faniel scored the last two buckets of the run for the visitors.
 
St. Edward's (10-13, 6-9 HC) fought back, getting two buckets from FRANKIE MGBOLU and another from RAMIR BURTON to cut the lead to 14-12, with 12:18 left in the opening half.
 
Kevin Jefferson, Jr. came off of the bench for the Dustdevils to lead a 12-0 run over the next eight minutes and take a 26-12 lead with 4:47 remaining. Jefferson, Jr. had five points during the stretch.
 
The Hilltoppers got hot from outside down the stretch in the first half to cut the lead. JAE RICKETTS came off of the bench to nail a three-pointer and JOHN RUTHERFORD had a four-point play. All this helped lead St. Edward's back within four points, 27-23, with just over a minute to play in the first half. Jefferson, Jr. would pick off a Hilltopper pass and finish a breakaway dunk to push the lead to six, but Mgbolu's runner just as time expired cut the lead to 29-25 at the break.
 
In the second half, it was TAMU-International who upped its lead, going on a 12-5 run out of the break. The Dustdevils got treys from Deonte Breedlove and Matthew Culliver to spark the run.
 
The Dustdevils still held a double-digit lead with 12:09 remaining, 50-38, but five-straight points off of the bench from JOHN GRAMLICH, a trey from CHRIS WACKER and a layup from Mgbolu sparked the Hilltoppers on a 10-0 run to cut the lead to two points, 50-48, with 8:44 left in the contest.
 
TAMU-International kept the lead for most of the stretch run, and held a 64-57 lead with just under a minute to play. Burton made a free throw, and HARLEY NUSSMAN picked off the inbounds pass and found Burton who was fouled. Burton canned two free throws to cut the lead to 64-60, with 42 seconds left. St. Edward's had to foul. Jordan Clark missed the front end of a one-and-one, and Nussman was fouled on the rebound. The 6-11 forward calmly knocked both freebies, to cut the lead to two with 38 seconds remaining. After made free throws by the Dustdevils and late dunk by Nussman made it a three-point game with three seconds left. Burton's heave was off the mark and the Dustdevils won the game.
 
 
Mgbolu led the Hilltoppers with 14 points, while Gramlich and Burton chipped in with 11 points each. Nussman finished with eight points and eight rebounds.
St. Edward's will be back in action Saturday when they host long-time rival St. Mary's. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. at the Recreation and Convocation Center. Saturday's contest will be Homecoming on the Hilltop and it will also be Senior Day for five Hilltopper seniors. The senior ceremony will take place right after the women's contest that begins at 2:00 p.m. Live video and stats will be available on the Hilltopper Athletic Website.