LAREDO, Texas – The St. Edward's men's basketball team caught fire from deep in the second half to defeat Texas A&M International 67-61 to sweep the regular-season series. 

JEFF GARY led four Hilltoppers in double figures, scoring 14 of his 21 points in the second to lead a 41-point explosion for the Hilltoppers after the break. 

The Hilltoppers struggled to find a rhythm in the first half, shooting 10-for-26 (38.5 percent) from the field, including 2-for-7 from deep. However, Texas A&M International slowed down the Hilltopper offense, limiting the season-long conference leader in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio to one assist and forcing seven turnovers. 

Garry struggled early, scoring seven points on 3-for-9 shooting in the first half, but GAVINO RAMOS carried the load with nine points on 3-for-4 shooting, hitting a 3-pointer and two free throws. The Hilltoppers missed first-year center SEAN ELKINTON, who was limited to under seven minutes in the half with foul trouble. 

Texas A&M International matched St. Edward's 10-for-26 shooting performance, including 0-for-5 from 3-point territory. However, the Dustdevils were able to mitigate their poor shooting with 15 free-throw attempts, sinking seven to take a 27-26 lead. 

Both teams went back and forth early in the second half with seven lead changes and three ties until St. Edward's reeled off a 20-6 run from the 12:40 to 7:07 mark. Then, the Hilltoppers caught fire, hitting all five 3-point attempts and 6-for-8 overall with three free throws over the five minutes. 

Gary sparked the run with a 3-pointer off a feed from Ramos. MASON HIX followed a John Achebe layup with another 3-pointer, assisted by BLAKE NIELSEN. Then, Gary scored five consecutive points, hitting a pair of free throws and a 3-pointer. A few possessions later, Hix generated his own 6-0 run, hitting a 3-pointer with a foul for a 4-point play, then grabbing an offensive rebound and scoring. BENNETT MOHN added a 3-pointer to cap off a 9-0 run, giving St. Edward's a 57-45 lead. 

Hix was perfect in the second half, scoring 11 points on 3-for-3 shooting with two 3-pointers and converting all three free throws. He also finished with six rebounds. Gary wasn't far off, shooting 4-for-5 from the field, including both his 3-point attempts and all four of his free throws.

Texas A&M International's Greg Bowie II kept the Dustdevils within arm's length, scoring nine points over the final seven minutes of play. Texas A&M International pulled within two on a Davis free throw with 2:17 remaining. However, St. Edward's held Texas A&M International to one made field goal over the final two minutes while Gary, Hix, and UCHE DIBIAMAKA iced the game with two made free throws each. 

St. Edward's improves to 16-7 with a 10-4 conference record with the win. The Hilltoppers will return home to play St. Mary's on Tuesday, Jan. 31.