AUSTIN – Despite a 19-0 lead to start the game and leading by as many as 27 in the first half, St. Edward's men's basketball was unable to hold off the Javelinas, falling 86-83 Thursday evening.
 
The Hilltoppers missed just one field goal in the opening five minutes of play while forcing four TAMUK turnovers in their first five possessions to hold the Javelinas scoreless and mount a huge lead in the blink of an eye.
 
A 19-point advantage was not enough as St. Edward's continued on, pressing their lead to 27, 38-11, on MARCUS HILL's three with 7:27 to play until halftime. Undeterred, Texas A&M-Kingsville started to chip away at the deficit and cut it to ten by the break, 45-35.
 
The second half was a stark contrast to the first, however, as TAMUK hung close and steadily closed the gap, eventually taking the lead from the free throw line 71-70 with just under seven minutes to play.
 
SEU was able to regain the lead briefly, going up by four with just 3:39 to play, but the Javelinas hit the shots they needed to take the lead for the final time, 84-83. Two more free throws in the final seconds sealed the win as St. Edward's was unable to get off a shot down the stretch.
 
The Hilltoppers shot 56.1 percent from the floor but just 34.6 percent from three-point range with DANIEL VENZANT leading the way with 30 points on 12-16 shooting, adding a team-high six assists. B.J. MAXWELL posted 19 points and LOGAN COOK 12.
 
St. Edward's falls to 8-4 on the season and 6-3 in Lone Star Conference play. They head to Kingsville and look to return to their winning ways with a rematch of tonight's contest, facing TAMUK on Saturday at 7 pm.