CANYON – St. Edward's dropped their first ever NCAA Regional Final appearance Tuesday, falling 89-70 to West Texas A&M University. The No. 4 Hilltoppers end the season with a 30-4 overall record.
 
The Hilltoppers were strong at the start and both teams set the pace early, exploding for 15 points each in the first five and a half minutes. RYAN GARZA's three as the clock ticked under nine minutes gave SEU their largest lead of the game, five points, 26-21.
 
The Hilltoppers' stout offense then went cold, as they were held to just two field goals and six total points in the final nine minutes of the first half. By the time the halftime buzzer sounded the Buffaloes led by ten, 43-33.
 
WT came out of halftime just as they went in, starting on a 13-2 run to extend their lead to 21, 56-35, less than four minutes into the second half. SEU shot just 11.1% to start the second half while WTAMU exploded for 85.7%.
 
The Buffaloes led by as many as 26 points, 65-39, with 12:09 to play. ASHTON SPEARS' back to back threes followed by one by Garza pulled SEU within 19, 67-48. St. Edward's was able to pull as close as 14, 76-62, with 5:00 remaining. The deficit was just too much to overcome as West Texas A&M closed out the win.
 
St. Edward's committed 11 turnovers in the loss with just five steals while shooting 40.6% from the floor and 30.8% from three-point range. Spears led with 21 points while LUCAS DORIA added 16 and DORIAN LOPEZ 10 and a team-high six rebounds.
 
The loss marks the end of the 2018-19 season as the Hilltoppers lose one senior to graduation, CORY MCKENDREE.