AUSTIN, Texas – In its regular-season home opener, St. Edward's University Men's Basketball used 52 second-half points to cruise past Southwestern University. The win moves head coach Andre Cook and his team to 3-0 for the second-straight year and the fourth time in Cook's tenure on the hilltop.
A total of four Hilltoppers finished the game scoring in double digits with
FRANKIE MGBOLU dropping 19 to lead the way.
RAMIR BURTON collected 17 points of his own and
AUBRIE KING teamed up with
ETHAN GILBERT to add 24 more.
TREY LINDSEY came up big on the glass with a team-high nine boards; narrowly missing a double-double with nine points. A four-assist outing from
SEAN WATKINS rounded out St. Edward's top performers.
"It's a win and that's a positive. Other than that the credit goes to Southwestern," said coach Cook. "They played harder and smarter all night. We have a long way to go if we have any thoughts of reaching the goals we set for the season. The good news is that they are fine young men and they want to get better."
The game opened with a slow start from St. Edward's as the Pirates took an early five-point lead. Burton answered back with back-to-back buckets, and a jumper from
JOHN GRAMLICH gave the home team their first lead of the game.
However, Southwestern would not be dealt with so easily as a it would retake the lead on a pair of free throws and not surrender it again until the 13:24 mark. More timely shooting from Burton helped the Toppers extend their lead, and a 4-0 run to end the half would give St. Edward's a 43-37 advantage.
After the break the Pirates would continue to hang around, firing off five-straight points to pull back within one; but a rash of turnovers and an 8-0 run from the home team turned a one point deficit into 14, and the Hilltoppers would not look back.
Coach Cook and his team continue play this Friday and Saturday at the Angelo State Ed Messbarger Tip-Off Classic. The weekend opens against McMurry on Friday at 5 p.m. in the Junell Center and continues on Saturday against the hosting Angelo State Rams at 7 p.m. Live stats and video will be available online at www.GoHilltoppers.com. Fans can also follow the team on Twitter at @SEUMBasketball.
