AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's men's basketball played No. 6 Dallas Baptist on even terms in almost every facet of the game, but a 19-11 advantage at the free-throw line proved to be the difference in an 81-77 loss to the Patriots. 
 
SEAN ELKINTON led four starters in double figures with 16 points, shooting 7-for-11 from the field, including 2-for-3 from deep. The Hilltoppers outscored the Patriots in points off turnovers (21-16), points in the paint (44-40), second-chance points (11-9), fast-break points (20-10), and points off the bench (22-16). 
 
The Hilltoppers opened the game on an 8-0 run, getting two 3-pointers from JEFF GARY and a dunk by SEAN ELKINTON off a feed from BENNETT MOHN after St. Edward's broke the press. 
 
Dallas Baptist responded with a 16-8 run, sparked by a forced turnover after a live ball was inadvertently stopped, allowing the Patriots to set its press. The Patriots shot 7-for-9 with a pair of 3-pointers over the next five minutes to tie the game at 16 on Trevor Frank's 3-pointer. 
 
The lead seesawed with nine lead changes and five ties over the first half. St. Edward's had a balanced attack, with five Hilltoppers scoring at least five points and Gary leading the team with eight. JAYDEN JOHNSTON scored seven on five shots off the bench, Elkinton had six, and BLAKE NIELSEN and GAVINO RAMOS had six points and three assists each. 
 
Ta'Jay Dunlap and Ricky Lujan led Dallas Baptist with a combined 17 points, scoring nine and eight, respectively, to take a 38-37 lead going into the break on a driving layup from Lujan in the final minute of the half. 
 
Dallas Baptist opened the second half on a 20-9 run over the first six minutes of the second half, taking advantage of four St. Edward's turnovers and seven missed shots. The Hilltoppers missed three open 3-pointers over that stretch, and after attempting only two free throws in the first half, DBU went 7-for-9 in the first few minutes to take a 58-46 lead. 
 
St. Edward's responded with an 11-2 run to behind five points and an assist from Ramos, including a feed to JAMISON KAY for a dunk that sparked a 9-0 run to pull St. Edward's within three at 60-57 with just under ten minutes remaining. 
 
Both teams played evenly over the final ten minutes. St. Edward's shot 8-for-15 from the field with seven points from Elkinton and four from Kay down the stretch, and Dallas Baptist went 10-for-15 from the free-throw line to keep the Hilltoppers at bay. 
 
Forward Cameron Kahn led Dallas Baptist with 18 of his 22 points in the second, taking advantage of switches and using his physicality to shoot 6-for-10 from the field and draw eight fouls, shooting 10-for-14 from the free-throw line. 
 
Dunlap and Lujan scored 17 each, with Dunlap finishing one rebound shy of a double-double. Dallas Baptist shot 30-for-66 from the field, including 6-for-23 from deep and 19-for-29 from the charity stripe. 
 
Ramos finished with 15 points, six assists, five rebounds, and three steals. Gary added 12 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and two steals, and Nielsen had 10 points, ten rebounds, six assists, and two steals. 
 
St. Edward's drops to 12-5 with a 5-3 conference record. Dallas Baptist improves to 13-1, including 7-1 in conference. The Hilltoppers will host Oklahoma Christian on Thursday.