WICHITA FALLS, Texas – In a game between physical, defensive-minded Midwestern State and free-flowing, high-octane St. Edward's, the Hilltoppers found their physical edge in freshman big man SEAN ELKINTON in a 79-75 win. 

The 6-foot-8, 220-pound starting center recorded his fourth double-double in nine collegiate career games, scoring a career-high 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting with three 3-pointers, 10 rebounds, two blocks, and a steal in 30 minutes. 

Elkinton's 20 points led a balanced offensive attack with all five starters in double figures, along with reserve BLAKE NIELSEN. UCHE DIBIAMAKA and MASON HIX scored 12 each on identical 5-for-9 shooting, each hitting a pair of 3-pointers. JEFF GARY, GAVINO RAMOS, and Nielsen scored 10 each, with Ramos adding seven assists. 

Midwestern State opened the game with two lobs in its first three made field goals, and St. Edward's responded with back-to-back 3-pointers, starting with Dibiamaka curling up top off an Elkinton off-ball screen, followed by the latter draining a pick-and-pop 3-pointer from Gary. 

The start set the tone for a game in which the Mustangs outscored the Hilltoppers 50-36 in the paint and 14-6 in second-chance points, but St. Edward's owned a 33-15 advantage from behind the 3-point line.

Dibiamaka led the Hilltoppers early, scoring seven of his 12 points in the first four minutes with the 3-pointer, a layup on a beautiful cut and pass from Ramos and a dunk in transition off a steal. Hix added a 3-pointer off a feed from the elbow from Elkinton, and Ramos drained a stepback 3-pointer in transition as part of a 10-0 run over two minutes for an early 16-9 lead.

Jordan Teal kept Midwestern State in the game with 10 points on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting, getting in the paint and finishing at will. The Mustangs shot 45.5 percent in the half, though with a much lower volume of 3-pointers, taking nine to St. Edward's 17 and hitting just three before the break.

Elkinton led St. Edward's with 14 points in the half on 6-for-8 shooting and tied Dibiamka with five rebounds. His primary offensive function isn't a focal point as much as one can be a focal point in a decentralized offense. However, he does add essential layers to the offense with enough size to discourage switching, a hub on the elbows to run split cuts and off-ball screens for outside shooters, and as a finishing option off other players' passes.

That simplified role is enough to get Elkinton to his 10.7 points per game average, but against Midwestern State, he showed how his scoring could increase in the system. Elkinton showed a new wrinkle, shooting 3-for-4 from the 3-point line after struggling from deep in his first few games. He also worked the offensive glass for four offensive rebounds, scoring a few putbacks to lead St. Edward's to a 42-39 first-half advantage. 

St. Edward's opened the second half on a 15-5 run, sparked by a pair of 3-pointers and a layup by Gary to give the Hilltoppers their largest lead at 57-44 with 13:42 remaining. 

Midwestern State responded with a 23-10 run led by Jermaine Carter, who scored nine points over that nine-minute stretch to tie the game at 67. 

Nielsen put St. Edward's back on top with a driving layup, and Elkinton blocked Carter. After the Mustangs tied it again, the Hilltoppers reeled off a 10-6 run, with Ramos scoring five, Elkinton adding three, and Dibiamaka scoring a jumper. 

St. Edward's is now 8-1 and 3-0 in conference play. The Hilltoppers will stay on the road to play Cameron on Monday at 7:30 p.m.