EDMOND, Okla. – St. Edward's Men's Basketball suffered their first loss since November 24, falling 84-80 to Oklahoma Christian University Thursday afternoon.
 
SEU was in a situation they were not accustomed too, trailing much of the first half. Back-to-back threes by LUKE PLUYMEN's put the Hilltoppers on top 35-32 with 4:33 to play and sparked a run that sent St. Edward's into the locker room with an 11-point advantage, 45-34.
 
Within minutes in the second half SEU had pushed their lead to 16, 52-36. The Hilltoppers maintained a double-digit lead the majority of the half and led by ten, 73-63, with 7:23 to play. At that point the Eagles made a 12-3 run to pull within one point, 76-75 with 3:24 remaining and eventually took the lead a minute later, 79-78.
 
AUGUST HAAS hit a jumper to give SEU the lead once again, but that is where the Hilltopper's scoring ended as SEU went 0-4 from the free throw line in the final minute of the game while OCU went 3-4.
 
SEU shot just 33.3% (6-18) from the free throw line in the second half and 45.5% (10-22) for the game. ASHTON SPEARS led offensively with 18 points while Pluymen added 11. The Hilltoppers were -11 in rebounding margin with CORY MCKENDREE and DORIAN LOPEZ grabbing seven each to lead the team.
 
St. Edward's falls to 20-2 on the year, 9-1 in Heartland Conference play. They remain on the road to face Newman on Saturday at 3 pm.