LAKEWOOD, Colo. – St. Edward's men's basketball led from start to finish against a resilient Colorado Christian team, staving off several big runs to keep the Cougars at bay with a 74-71 victory to sweep its games against RMAC opponents. 
 
GAVINO RAMOS scored a career-high 28 points, hitting three 3-pointers and living at the free-throw line, where he shot 13-for-15 to lead the Hilltoppers. 
 
Ramos set the tone by drawing a foul on the game's opening possession, splitting the free throws. CONOR MCMANUS followed with a steal and found MASON COURTNEY for a 3-pointer, then found Courtney against a few possessions later for another. LEWIS ROWE capped off the 9-0 run to open the game with a shot inside. 
 
Shaylen Woodberry put Colorado Christian on the scoreboard with a 3-pointer, but McManus answered with one of his own on a feed from Courtney. The Hilltoppers turned to their bench seven minutes in, and SAM MCKINNEY responded with two quick layups and a pair of free throws to keep the Hilltopper lead in double digits. 
 
Colorado Christian cut the lead to two late in the half with four 3-pointers sandwiching a single Ramos 3-pointer to pull to within 25-23 with 3:54 remaining before the break. 
 
McKinney responded with three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt, Ramos answered a Land layup with one of his own, and Rowe hit a free throw to give St. Edward's a 31-25 lead at the half. 
 
Colorado Christian opened the second half with a dunk and a free throw, but Ramos answered with a 3-pointer, and JAMISON KAY stole the ball and went the length of the court for a dunk but was called for a technical foul in the process. 
 
That sparked a 5-0 Colorado Christian run, answered by a Rowe bucket inside, a Courtney steal, and a Ramos layup. Rowe got another steal, and Ramos was fouled on a 3-point attempt, hitting 2-for-3 from the free-throw line. 
 
St. Edward's lead hovered around 10 points over the next few minutes until Latiek Brisco hit a jumper and Courtney a 3-pointer to give the Hilltoppers some breathing room. 
 
Colorado Christian charged back to pull within one on a Tate Odvody 3-pointer and pair of free throws with 2:43 remaining, but Ramos responded with a layup, Courtney a steal, and Ramos hit six free throws down the stretch to ice the game. 
 
Rowe added 12 points, eight rebounds, and two steals. Courtney contributed three 3-pointers, six rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks in a solid all-around game, and McKinney scored nine points, hit 5-for-6 from the free-throw line, and grabbed five rebounds. 
 
St. Edward's improves to 4-1, playing all five games on the road. The Hilltoppers will host Rockford next Thursday in their home opener, followed by a Saturday game against Southwestern.