DALLAS – Senior
ETHAN GILBERT broke out with 19 points and seven rebounds as St. Edward's took down Colorado Mesa 71-66 Saturday for its first win of the season.
Gilbert's 19 points are a career high for the senior. He played 34 minutes, and also collected a steal, while committing just one turnover.
RAMIR BURTON and
JOHN GRAMLICH also scored in double digits with 12 points each. Burton added a team-high six assists.
St. Edward's closes out the Heartland/Rocky Mountain Conference Tip-Off with a record of 1-1. Colorado Mesa goes home with an 0-2 mark.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Sophomore JAMES TAYLOR broke the ice with a three-pointer after more than two minutes of scoreless play.
- Burton and sophomore CORY MCKENDREE went a combined 4-for-4 at the free-throw line to help St. Edward's to a 35-31 halftime lead.
- Colorado Mesa took an early second-half lead at 36-35, but Taylor took it back for the Hilltoppers with a jumper in the lane.
- St. Edward's never trailed again as junior SEAN WATKINS sank a pair of free throws with 1.4 seconds remaining to clinch the win.
HILLTOPPER NOTES
- The Hilltoppers out-rebounded the Mavericks 44-30 with 16 offensive boards.
- St. Edward's won the turnover battle 8-7 after committing 19 against Colorado Christian.
- Head coach Andre Cook is perfect at 3-0 all-time against Colorado Mesa.
- Colorado Christian won the cross-conference challenge going 2-0.
QUOTE BOARD: HEAD COACH ANDRE COOK
"It was tough. The whole weekend was tough. We open up with these teams every year, and as I said in the preview, every game comes down to the last four minutes. These second games of doubleheaders are a grind. You have to figure out a way to win, and that's what we did. Mesa is a tough team and Andy is a terrific coach. It was a battle and I'm glad we were able to come out with a victory."
UP NEXT
The Hilltoppers head to San Antonio Tuesday for an exhibition against Incarnate Word at 7 p.m. Live video and stats will be available at
www.GoHilltoppers.com.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: St. Edward's 71, Colorado Mesa 66
Records: St. Edward's (1-1), Colorado Mesa (0-2)
Leading Scorers: St. Edward's-
ETHAN GILBERT (19), Colorado Mesa-CJ Davis (23)
Attendance: 259
For the latest updates on the St. Edward's men's basketball team, follow us on Twitter at @SEUMBasketball.
