Box Score TULSA, Okla. – St. Edward's scored 33 points off of St. Mary's 22 turnovers en route to an 87-78 win in the first round of the Heartland Conference Tournament Thursday. The win improves SEU to 26-3 on the year.
 
St. Mary's started the game on a mission, scoring the first five points and jumping out to a 15-6 lead three and a half minutes in. The slow start by the Hilltoppers didn't last long, however, as their tenacious defense led to easy layups, cutting into the deficit quickly.
 
RYAN GARZA's three with 10:42 remaining in the half gave the Hilltoppers the lead for the first time, 23-22. St. Edward's never trailed the remainder of the half, leading by 14, 47-33, heading into the locker room at halftime.
 
DORIAN LOPEZ and LUCAS DORIA led the charge offensively with 13 points and 10 points, respectively. The Hilltoppers also forced the Rattlers into 13 first half turnovers, leading to 20 points.
 
An even more focused and determined team took the court after the break, maintaining their double-digit lead through the first eight minutes. SEU forced more turnovers, making layups in transition look easy including a behind-the-back pass from Doria in transition to AUGUST HAAS to put the Hilltoppers up 20, 72-52, with 10:40 to play.
 
SEU was never threatened the rest of the way, maintaining a 16-point lead as the clock ticked under three minutes. St. Mary's made a run as the game wound to a close but it was too little, too late as DILLON YOUNG hit a pair of free throws to keep the game out of reach.
 
ASHTON SPEARS led all scorers with 23 points on 9-15 shooting from the floor and 3-9 from three-point range. Lopez added 16 points while Doria posted his third double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 boards.
 
St. Edward's takes the court again on Saturday at 2:30 and await their next opponent, facing the winner of Newman/Rogers State who face off on Friday at 2:30 pm.