FORT SMITH, Ark. – The 23^rd-ranked St. Edward's men's basketball team dropped an 88-72 decision to UA Fort Smith Saturday afternoon at the Stubblefield Center.
 
UA Fort Smith (12-8, 8-4 HC) started the game off red hot, outscoring the Hilltoppers, 9-0, in the first two minutes of play.
 
RAMIR BURTON kept the St. Edward's (16-4, 8-4 HC) close in the first half as the sophomore reeled off 13 points in the first frame. The only problem was that the Lions shot 47 percent from the floor and made five shots from downtown. They also held the Hilltoppers to 37 percent shooting and led the visitors, 51-30 at the break.
 
In the second half, the lead would swell to 23 points, 55-32, with 18:42 remaining. St. Edward's made a run at the Lions over the next four minutes as the Hilltoppers outscored the home team, 11-3, to cut the lead to 15 points. QUINTON LILLEY tallied five points and both TREY LINDSEY and FRANKIE MGBOLU added three points each. However, a 9-2 run by UA Fort Smith over the next three minutes staved off the momentum and put the game away.
 
Mgbolu and Burton led the Hilltoppers with 13 points each, while Lindsey added 12 and JOHN GRAMLICH registered 11 points.
 
The difference in the game came on the glass, as UA Fort Smith outrebounded St. Edward's, 52-25.
 
The loss creates a logjam in the Heartland Conference standings as five teams are now tied for first with an 8-4 league mark.
 
St. Edward's will be back in action Thursday when they travel to take on UT-Permian Basin. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at the Falcon Dome in Odessa, Texas. Live video and stats will be available on the Falcon Athletic Website. The Hilltoppers will be looking to avenge a loss to UT-Permian Basin earlier in the season in Austin.
 
                                             Heartland           Overall
Team (Preseason)                 W-L                   W-L
#23 St. Edward's (9)               8-4                    16-4
UA Fort Smith (1)                    8-4                    12-8
St. Mary's (2)                            8-4                    11-8
Lubbock Christian* (6)           8-4                    11-8
Rogers State* (5)                     8-4                    14-6
UT-Permian Basin (4)             7-5                    12-8
Newman (8)                             6-6                    10-8
Dallas Baptist (7)                     5-6                    11-8
TAMU-International (3)          5-7                   10-10
Panhandle State (11)              1-9                    3-15
Oklahoma Christian* (10)     1-12                   3-16
 
SCHEDULE/RESULTS
January 31
DBU 69, LCU 67
RSU 91, UTPB 71
TAMIU 81, OC 60
UAFS 88, SEU 72
NU 86, STMU 84
 
February 2
OPSU at DBU                               7:00 PM
 
February 5
SEU at UTPB                                5:30 PM
RSU at STMU                               7:30 PM
NU at OPSU                                  7:30 PM
UAFS at TAMIU                            7:30 PM
OC at LCU                                     7:30 PM
 
February 7
DBU at SEU                                  2:00 PM
OC at OPSU                                  3:00 PM
NU at LCU                                    3:00 PM
RSU at TAMIU                              3:00 PM
UAFS at STMU                             3:00 PM