BILLINGS, Mont. – St. Edward's men's basketball fought back from an 18-point first-half deficit, scoring 50 points in the second to open the season with an 80-73 win over the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves in its first game of the Montana State Billings Tip-Off Classic.
 
St. Edward's frontcourt of JAMISON KAY and BLAKE NIELSEN combined for 45 points, led by Nielsen's 24 game-high points, seven assists, and seven rebounds. The defense forced 20 turnovers, leading to 21 points off turnovers in the win. 
 
Kay led the Hilltoppers with 12 points in the first half, hitting 3-for-5 from the field and 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. However, the rest of the team combined to shoot 5-for-23 and missed all ten 3-point attempts. 
 
St. Edward's had fewer opportunities to set its press without making field goals, and Alaska Anchorage settled into an offensive rhythm from deep, hitting 7-for-13 from beyond the 3-point line to jump out to an 18-point lead. Tyler Burraston and Zach Ibbetson scored 11 points each for the Seawolves before the break, combining to shoot 5-for-9 from deep. 
 
St. Edward's scrapped for 14 points from the free-throw line on attempts before the break, and Kay scored eight in the final two minutes to pull the Hilltoppers within nine at 39-30 at the half. 
 
Both teams exchanged buckets to open the second half, and Alaska Anchorage extended its lead back to double-digits on a Burraston 3-pointer to go up 44-34. After roughly two scoreless minutes from both teams, MASON COURTNEY sparked the Hilltoppers with a 3-pointer to start a 16-0 run. 
 
St. Edward's picked up a steal on the ensuing play, Mason grabbed an offensive rebound on a missed Nielsen layup and found GAVINO RAMOS for a 3-pointer. Ramos immediately picked off another pass and found Nielsen for a layup. 
 
After a media timeout, the Hilltopper defense forced a third consecutive turnover, and Nielsen scored on a feed from Ramos to tie the game at 44 with 14:28 remaining. Courtney continued to fuel St. Edward's with his energy, giving the Hilltoppers the lead on a tip-in offensive rebound.  LEWIS ROWE added to the lead with a hook shot, then LUKE KISER stole a pass and found SAM MCKINNEY for a layup. 
 
Alaska Anchorage battled back to tie the game at 52, but CONOR MCMANUS answered with a 3-pointer on a feed from Kiser. Courtney picked up a steal and found Nielsen for another layup. 
 
The layup settled Nielsen into a zone, and the senior forward scored 12 consecutive points, including a pair of 3-pointers, found Kay for two layups, and hit another 3-pointer down the stretch. 
 
Ramos iced the game with a pair of free throws and a dish to Kay for a dunk, picking up his fifth assist of the night. 
Nielsen finished 10-for-18 from the field and 3-for-4 from deep. Kay tied Nielsen for a team-high seven rebounds and had a pair of steals and a block. Ramos had nine points and four rebounds. Courtney led the second unit with seven points, two offensive rebounds, two assists, and a steal. 
 
St. Edward's outscored Alaska Anchorage 21-12 off turnovers and 44-10 in the paint. The Hilltoppers will play the University of Mary on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.