o-5 LANGLEY, B.C. – JEFF GARY led six Hilltoppers in double figures with 16 points, and the St. Edward's men's basketball team opened its season with a 77-72 win over Seattle Pacific on the first day of the CCA Division II Canadian Tip-Off Classic. 
 
Gary opened the game with St. Edward's first two buckets, sprinting along the baseline and receiving the ball from SEAN ELKINTON for the short jumper, then moving off-ball again for a long two-pointer for the 4-2 lead. A few possessions later, he found GAVINO RAMOS for a 3-pointer, then scored six points on back-to-back possessions, hitting a 3-pointer and a layup and foul combination for the early 17-12 lead. 
 
The Hilltopper bench entered with 12:34 remaining in the half and quickly extended the lead to double digits. JAYDEN JOHNSTON hit a shot in the paint, and JAMISON KAY scored on an offensive rebound to put the Hilltoppers up 25-14. 
 
Gary led St. Edward's with 14 points in the half, hitting 5-for-8 from the field and 3-for-3 from the free-throw line. Kay and Johnston combined for 15 points on seven shots off the bench, and the Hilltoppers opened a 46-29 lead at the break. 
 
St. Edward's shot 56.7 percent (17-for-30) in the first half, including 7-for-13 from deep with nine assists. The Hilltopper defense also forced eight turnovers, scoring 15 points and opening a lead as large as 18.
 
Seattle Pacific steadied itself in the second half behind a monster performance from Shaw Anderson, its sweet-shooting stretch forward with a soft touch inside and some ball skills. The 6-foot-7 Great Northwest Atheltic Conference Preseason Player of the Year got free for 20 of his game-high 27 points in the second half. 
 
Anderson hit 3-for-4 from deep, 6-for-8 from the field, and 5-for-5 from the free-throw line after the break to turn the tables on the Hilltoppers. 
 
Ramos kept the Hilltoppers steady with eight points on 3-for-3 shooting in the second half, and Elkinton, BLAKE NIELSEN, and Kay combined for 11 of St. Edward's 14 made free throws after the break to keep the Hilltoppers afloat. 
 
Twice, Anderson brought Seattle Pacific back to within a single possession. Gary answered the first moment with a huge foul drawn, sinking both free throws to extend the Hilltopper lead to 72-67. 
 
A few possessions later, Anderson nailed a 3-pointer with 51 seconds remaining to cut the lead to 74-72, but Nielsen hit 3-for-4 from the free-throw line and recorded a steal over the final minute to preserve the win. 
 
Gary finished with 16 points, two steals, and two assists. Kay added 12 points on six shots off the bench. Elkinton picked up where he left off last season, recording an efficient double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds on 4-for-6 shooting. Nielsen and Ramos added 11 points each and combined for seven assists. Johnston added 10 points on 3-for-5 shooting off the bench. 
 
St. Edward's will play Western Washington tomorrow at noon for the second day of the Canadian Tip-Off Classic.