AUSTIN, Texas - St. Edward's men's basketball started strong but faded late in an 89-73 loss to the No. 14-ranked Colorado Mesa Mavericks, splitting its two LSC/RMAC Challenge games this weekend.
SEAN ELKINTON led three Hilltoppers in double figures with a 27-point, 13-rebound double-double. St. Edward's sophomore big man paced the Hilltoppers early with a solid first half, scoring 16 points and grabbing seven boards. Elkinton showcased his versatility, spacing the floor by hitting all four of his 3-point attempts in the half.
GAVINO RAMOS set the table with six points and four assists before the break, finding Elkinton for two of his 3-pointers and a layup and reserve guard
JAYDEN JOHNSTON for another layup.
BLAKE NIELSEN and
JEFF GARY added seven points each.
Both teams went back and forth with six ties and ten lead changes in the half, and St. Edward's pushed its advantage as high as six with 3:21 remaining on an Elkinton 3-pointer.
Isaac Jessup cut Colorado Mesa's deficit to one on a 3-pointer with 1:20 remaining, leading the Mavericks with 14 points on 4-for-7 shooting from deep in the first half, but Gary drew a shooting foul and made both free throws to give the Hilltoppers a 42-39 advantage at the break.
St. Edward's shot 17-for-34 (50.0 percent) from the field, including 5-for-13 (38.5 percent) from beyond the 3-point line in the first half, forcing 15 turnovers to outscore Colorado Mesa 11-4 in points off turnovers.
Colorado Mesa ramped up its defense in the second half, forcing nine turnovers, including six steals, to open up an 18-0 advantage in points off turnovers after the break. The Mavericks also ran St. Edward's shooters off the 3-point line, limiting the Hilltoppers to six 3-point attempts without a single make.
The Mavericks made an 8-4 run to overtake St. Edward's midway through the second half, going up 64-58 on an Owen Koonce 3-pointer. Both teams exchanged baskets, and Elkinton cut the deficit to three on a pair of free throws with eight minutes remaining. Still, Colorado Mesa reeled off a 12-4 run over five minutes behind eight points from Trevor Baskin and a stingy defense that limited St. Edward's to four made free throws to go up 79-68. Colorado Mesa closed the game out on a 7-0 run.
Ramos finished with 14 points, four rebounds, and four assists, and Nielsen contributed 13 points, eight rebounds, and three assists. Baskin led Colorado Mesa with 24 points, and Jessup added 22, hitting six 3-pointers.
St. Edward's drops to 3-2 with the loss. The Hilltoppers will remain at home and host the University of St. Francis (Ill.) on Thursday and Saturday.
