AUSTIN – The St. Edward's men's basketball team welcomed former head coach Ryan Marks back on the opposing sidelines and showed the program remains strong with a 65-61 victory over the University of St. Francis Saints. 

On a cold-shooting night, the Hilltoppers overcame an 18-for-54 (38.46 percent ) performance from the field by getting to the free-throw line, shooting 24-for-25, and taking care of the ball with only eight turnovers. 

St. Francis got a stellar first-half performance from Carter Fayhee with 10 points on 5-for-7 shooting inside the paint. However, the rest of the Saints were far less efficient, shooting a combined 8-for-21 from the field and producing more turnovers (11) than assists (eight). 

Sean Elkinton helped anchor the defense in the first half, forcing ball handlers to retreat by blitzing high screens at the point of attack and engulfing drivers at the rim, blocking two shots and altering several others. The Hilltoppers also got a good spark from the bench in the half, turning to BLAKE NIELSEN, BENNETT MOHN, Uzo Dibiamaka, and JAYLEN GORDON. They all posted a positive plus-minus by playing solid defense, covering all the Saint's off-ball cuts from the pinch and low post. 

Nielsen was especially effective all game, filling up the box score and providing intangibles with an excellent floor game, disrupting passing lanes and drives on defense, and leading all bench scorers with 14 points on nine shots on offense while also contributing six rebounds and a steal. 

Both teams played to a near draw through most of the first half, with the game tied at 24 with 5:34 remaining before the break. However, the Hilltoppers closed the half out on a 12-7 run, going up eight on a jumper by UCHE DIBIAMAKA before Lewis McGlasson hit a 3-pointer with five seconds remaining to bring St. Francis to within 36-31 at the break. 

UCHE DIBIAMAKA helped carry the Hilltoppers offensively in the second half, scoring 12 of his game-high 20 points in the second half. St. Edward's thrived at the free-throw line, outsourcing St. Francis by 10 with a 12-3 advantage in attempts to overcome a 1-for-9 shooting performance from deep. 

Jeff Gary was the game's second-leading scorer despite an off-shooting night from the field (2-for-10) by making all 13 of his free-throw attempts. Fayhee and Darius Wright each scored 13 for St. Francis, who finished 25-for-58 (43.1 percent) from the field. 

St. Edward's improves to 3-1 with the win and will host St. Francis on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.