TYLER, Texas – GAVINO RAMOS scored nine points over the final six minutes to lead a 16-7 St. Edward's men's basketball run to retake the lead and close the game with a 69-62 victory over the UT Tyler Patriots. 
 
Ramos led three Hilltoppers in double figures with 23 points and a perfect 10-for-10 afternoon from the free-throw line to hold off a surging UT Tyler in the second half. 
 
Both teams shot below 35 percent from the field in the first half, but St. Edward's compensated by outscoring UT Tyler 18-3 from the 3-point line and 5-1 from the free-throw line. 
 
In the first half, SEAN ELKINTON did most of the damage for the Hilltoppers. The sophomore big man opened the game with two 3-pointers in the first five minutes off feeds from BENNETT MOHN and BLAKE NIELSEN for an early 11-4 lead. He closed out his first stint of action with a layup off a feed from Ramos. 
 
When Elkinton returned, he showcased his passing, finding Ramos and CONOR MCMANUS for 3-pointers, then crashed the glass to earn a pair of free throws off an offensive rebound to close the half 2ith 10 points, six rebounds, and two assists. McManus sparked the Hilltoppers with a pair of 3-pointers off the bench, and Mohn and Ramos scored five each for a 29-18 lead at the break. 
 
After shooting just 8-for-27 in the first half, UT Tyler broke through in the second. The Patriot backcourt of Bryce Roberts and John Barbee shook free for 10 points each on a combined 8-for-15 shooting, leading the Patriots to a 16-for-29 (55.2 percent) overall shooting performance in the second half. 
 
The Patriots did most of it by getting into the paint, outscoring the Hilltoppers 22-12 inside over the final 20 minutes. UT Tyler also matched St. Edward's 3-point output at 5-for-11 after the break. 
 
Robert and Barbee led an early 13-5 run to bring UT Tyler to within 43-41 with 11:56 remaining, and both teams exchanged mini-runs until the Patriots reeled off a 7-0 stretch to take the 55-53 lead on an Alec Zambie 3-pointer with 6:22 remaining. 
 
St. Edward's responded with its own 7-0 run. Mohn started it with a pair of free throws, then Ramos found Elkinton for a 3-pointer to retake the lead, followed by Ramos getting fouled on a 3-point attempt, sinking all three. Ramos closed the game with nine made free throws and the 3-point assist over the final six minutes to keep the Patriots at bay. He also finished the game with five rebounds, five assists, and two steals. 
 
Elkinton finished with 19 points on 7-for-13 shooting, including 3-for-5 from deep, with eight rebounds. Mohn added 10, hitting both 3-point attempts. 
 
St. Edward's improves to 17-8 with a 10-6 conference record. The Hilltoppers will travel next week to play Arkansas Fort Smith on Thursday and Oklahoma Christian on Saturday.