AUSTIN – It was a big day on the Hilltop as #8 St. Edward's men's basketball defeated Western New Mexico 77-65 on Homecoming to close out their regular-season home schedule unscathed. The Hilltoppers move to 23-2 on the season and 17-2 in Lone Star Conference play and push their unbeaten home win streak to 29. 
 
A near capacity crowd cheered SEU to a 9-0 lead in the first two minutes. The Mustangs were unphased, however, and battled back to tie the game 17-17 midway through the first. St. Edward's got hot again and was able to build their lead back to nine by halftime, 36-27.
 
SEU wasn't able to put WNMU away as the Mustangs hung within striking distance the entire second half, coming within three in the frame, but St. Ed's was able to do enough to pull out the win.
 
COREY SHERVILL led the Hilltoppers with 15 points, while JAKE KRAFKA and RYAN GARZA added 12 each. LUKE PLUYMEN added 12 including four from the free throw line in the final minute and a half to seal the win. Krafka led on the boards with eight rebounds with LUCAS DORIA adding seven.
 
Five seniors, DORIAN LOPEZ, LUCAS DORIA, AUGUST HAAS, JUSTIN ROBINSON and ASHTON SPEARS were honored before the game in their final regular-season home game. The Hilltoppers return to the road to face DBU on Thursday at 7 pm.