AUSTIN, Texas – The St. Edward's Men's Basketball team was perfect in the opening seven minutes of the game to mount a large lead and never trailed, defeating Lubbock Christian 93-80 Saturday night. The win improves SEU to 30-3 on the year and they advance to face West Texas A&M in Canyon, Texas on Tuesday evening.
 
The Hilltoppers had all the confidence when they took the court and it showed as SEU went 9-9 with five steals and no turnovers in the first seven minutes of the contest. LCU was able to keep the game from getting out of hand, however, as they shot near 70% through the same stretch. St. Edward's held just a 10-point advantage, 25-15, despite the red-hot start.
 
SEU posted a 10-2 run between the second and third media timeouts to post their first 20-point lead of the half, 44-24, and led by 19 at halftime on AUGUST HAAS' three from the top of the key, 55-36.
 
The Hilltoppers pushed their lead to as many as 24 early in the second half, but LCU began to steadily chip away. The Chaps pulled within 11 points with just under five minutes remaining, 75-64, but DORIAN LOPEZ drained a jumper from downtown to push SEU's lead back to 14.
 
LCU continued to press but every time they would attempt a run, SEU had the answer, confidently closing out the game from the free throw line.
 
St. Edward's shot 51% from the floor and 50% from three-point range in the win. Haas and Lopez led the way with 17 points each while RYAN GARZA was again a spark off the bench, scoring 15 points in 18 minutes while going 3-4 from long range. ASHTON SPEARS and LUCAS DORIA chipped in 13 points each with COREY SHERVILL led on the glass with eight boards.
 
The historic season continues for the Hilltoppers as they head to Canyon to face West Texas A&M for the first time this season and just the third time in program history. Game time is set for 7:30 pm on the campus of WTAMU in Canyon, Texas.