AUSTIN, Texas – Six St. Edward's men's basketball players scored double figures to deliver a 98-89 victory over the Rockford Regents in a high-scoring Hilltopper home opener. 
 
GAVINO RAMOS followed his Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week performances from last weekend with another highly efficient scoring game, delivering 21 points on six shots, hitting 5-for-6 from the field and 10-for-12 from the free-throw line. The Hilltoppers' leading scorer also contributed six assists. 
 
Rockford opened the game on fire, hitting five of its first six shots, including all four 3-point attempts, to rush out to a 14-5 lead. 
 
St. Edward's turned to its bench and reeled off a 19-5 run led by Latike Briscoe and SAM MCKINNEY combining for 12 points. The Hilltopper defense dug in over that time, limiting Rockford to 2-for-10 shooting while forcing four turnovers, including three steals. St. Edward's defense turned into quick offense, and the Hilltoppers shot 8-for-10 over the next few minutes, hitting three 3-pointers to take a 24-19 lead. 
 
Daeshawn Jackson stopped the bleeding with a four-point play midway through the first half to bring the Regents back to within two.
 
The Hilltopper defense dug in again, recording six steals over the next six minutes. Ramos and JAMISON KAY combined for ten points over a 20-9 run to put the Hilltoppers up 44-31 with 2:56 remaining in the half. 
 
Rockford caught fire from deep over the final three minutes, hitting all three of its 3-point attempts to close the half on a 15-7 run to cut the Hilltopper lead to 51-46. The Regents put together an early 7-0 run in the second half to climb within two at 55-53, 
 
Ramos answered with a 3-pointer and 3-point play off a floater and foul. The Hilltoppers' point guard scored 13 second-half points, hitting 8-for-9 from the free-throw line and dishing out three assists to keep Rockford at bay. 
 
LEWIS ROWE found his rhythm with 10 points after the break, hitting 3-for-4 from the field and 4-for-5 from the free-throw line, and MASON COURTNEY added 11 points on five shots, hitting 3-for-4 from deep. 
 
Rockford stayed in the game by shooting away from deep, getting four 3-pointers off six shots from Jaden Bell in the second half. The Regents fired early and often from deep, taking 40 3-pointers and hitting 15. Rockford combined the shooting with 16 offensive rebounds, outscoring St. Edward's 24-2 in second-chance points. 
 
Micah Swanson led six Rockford players in double figures with 14 points on eight shots and five assists. Rowe finished second to Ramos with 16 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Kay added 14 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Courtney contributed 15 points and three assists. Briscoe anchored the second unit with 13 points on seven shots, and SAM MCKINNEY added 10 points on five. 
 
St. Edward's improves to 5-1 this season. The Hilltoppers will host Southwestern on Saturday at 5:00 p.m.