FORT SMITH, Ark. – St. Edward's men's basketball had several opportunities to tie the game in the closing minute but couldn't get a clean shot off in a 75-69 loss to the Arkansas Fort Smith Lions. 
 
SEAN ELKINTON led all scorers with 18 points and 13 rebounds, but the Arkansas Fort Smith defense locked in during the second half, keying in on the Hilltoppers' sophomore big man for a 40-29 second-half run. 
 
The chemistry between Elkinton and BLAKE NIELSEN fueled the Hilltoppers early, with the connection from Nielsen to Elkinton accounting for three layups in the latter's opening stint. Elkinton followed with a layup and a hook shot for a 17-12 lead in the first seven minutes. 
 
Elkinton finished the first half with 15 points on 7-for-11 shooting and eight rebounds. BENNETT MOHN had eight points, hitting a pair of 3-pointers and two free throws, and JAYDEN JOHNSTON hit both his 3-pointers for six points. Nielsen struggled from the field but set the table in the first half with six assists for a 40-35 lead. Nine Lions scored in the half, led by Ryan Maxwell's eight points on four shots. 
 
St. Edward's appeared to carry the momentum into the second half when GAVINO RAMOS reeled off a one-man 10-0 run from the 19 to 17-minute mark, hitting a pair of 3-pointers and two driving layups for the 50-39 lead. 
 
However, St. Edward's shot only 7-for-25 the rest of the way, going cold from deep with 3-for-14 shooting beyond the 3-point line over the final 16 minutes. Again, the Lions produced a balanced attack, with eight players scoring over the final 16 minutes, led by Cameron Bush's seven. 
 
Both teams exchanged buckets over the final two minutes, with Elkinton tying the game at 71 with a pick-and-pop 3-pointer from Nielsen, but Bush responded with a stepback jumper near the elbow to retake the lead. 
 
Arkansas Fort Smith made a critical final defensive stand with two blocks, a foul, and a timeout that ended with a Hilltopper stepping on the out-of-bounds line on the inbounds. The Lions nailed their free throws to ice the game. 
 
Ramos finished with 16 points, Mohn added 11, and Johnston scored nine. Nielsen led the team with nine assists. Maxwell led Arkansas Fort Smith with 13 points, and Bush and Payton Brown each scored 11. 
 
St. Edward's drops to 17-9 with a 10-7 conference record after the loss. The Hilltoppers will remain on the road and play Oklahoma Christian on Saturday.