AUSTIN, Texas – A swarming St. Edward's men's basketball fullcourt press and an on-fire CONOR MCMANUS sunk the Southwestern Pirates in a 95-47 Hilltopper win to sweep the Hilltoppers' first two home games. 
 
McManus set the tone with a steal that led to a LEWIS ROWE layup and foul for the game's first points on 3-point play, sparking a 21-4 run to break the game open. Rowe scored the game's first five points, but McManus led the charge with 11 points over the first five minutes, hitting three 3-pointers and a pair of free throws. 
 
Southwestern answered with back-to-back 3-pointers from Ofri Kauf and Nico Mur, but LATIEK BRISCOE brought energy and scoring off the bench with five points as part of a 9-3 run to put St. Edward's up 30-13. 
 
St. Edward's hit a brief drought, missing its next four shots from the field, but continued to shut down the Pirate offense, and McManus caught fire again late, closing the half with a 3-pointer and driving layup for the 46-22 lead at the break. 
 
McManus led all scorers with 16 points at the half, and Rowe scored eight. Kauf led Southwestern with seven points. St. Edward's forced 20 turnovers, including 12 steals, outscoring Southwestern 20-7 in points off turnovers. 
 
Both teams opened with efficient offense in the second half. Southwestern hit five of its first eight shots, but the Hilltoppers nearly doubled their production by hitting the offensive glass and firing from deep, getting three 3-pointers from McManus to open the half on a 22-12 run. St. Edward's hit 8-for-11 over the first six minutes and 6-of-7 from deep. 
 
The Hilltoppers turned to their bench with 13:23 remaining, and WONDER KAHOZI got the RAC crowd on its feet with a dunk off a feed from LUKE KISER. SAM MCKINNEY hit a floater, driving layup, and a short jumper, and JAKE DEFRANZA added a 3-pointer to go up 83-44 with 4:31 remaining. 
 
McManus led St. Edward's with a career-high 25 points, shooting 8-for-11 from the field and a blistering 7-for-10 from beyond the 3-point line. Rowe added 12 points, three rebounds, and two steals, and MASON COURTNEY contributed 11 points and four assists, hitting 2-for-4 from deep. 
 
St. Edward's improves to 6-1 this season. The Hilltoppers will return to the road next week to start conference play against Lubbock Christian on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., then at Midwestern State on Saturday.