AUSTIN, Texas — BLAKE NIELSEN's halftime buzzer-beating 3-pointer thawed an otherwise ice-cold Hilltopper offense, setting the stage for a scoring second-half run in St. Edward's 66-52 win over Sul Ross State to open Lone Star Conference play. 
 
As temperatures dropped into the low 40s outside the Recreation and Athletics Center, shooting percentages dropped well below freezing on the Ed Norris and Joe Beck Court.
 
St. Edward's missed its first five 3-pointers and shot just 4-for-16 through the first 10 minutes, compounding matters with four turnovers. It was a shooting performance that stressed-tested a Hilltopper defense that has shown up regardless of weather, location, or opponent.
 
Over that same 10-minute stretch, the Hilltoppers' limited Sul Ross State to 4-for-21 shooting, with the only difference separating the two teams being St. Edward's four made free throws for the 12-8 lead. Forward Keagan Moncrief scored three of the Lobos' four made baskets, but the Hilltopper defense soon snuffed even that out, limiting him to just one more made basket and pulling his shooting percentage down to 4-for-13 at the break.
 
St. Edward's continued to run its offense without much headway, shooting just 8-for-34 (23.5 percent) before the break, including 1-for-10 from the 3-point line. The Hilltoppers — a normally bastion of assist-to-turnover ratio — recorded a rare underwater first half, making good on two assists to five turnovers. 
 
Nielsen, known for his ability to get the entire machinery of the Hilltopper offense flowing, adapted by becoming its lone driving force. The senior point forward got downhill on drives and worked the low block for his usual assortment of floaters and hook shots, scoring 12 points on 5-for-11 shooting in the half. 
 
When Sul Ross State's Chianti Clay nailed a jumper with 23 seconds remaining to give the Lobos their first lead, it was Nielsen's 3-pointer fading from deep in the right corner as time expired that pushed the Hilltoppers past the 20-point mark and a 22-20 halftime lead. 
 
The moment sparked St. Edward's enough that the rest of the offense seemed to defrost over the break, starting with senior forward JAMISON KAY. 
 
Kay struggled offensively through a 0-for-5 first half, but keyed the Hilltopper defense with three blocks and three rebounds. He opened the second half scoring St. Edward's first eight points, his synergy with Nielsen waking the dormant parts of the Hilltopper offense. Kay and Nielsen connected on a pair of layups, and Kay added four free throws, outscoring Sul Ross State 8-4 over the first four minutes for the 30-24 lead. 
 
Freshman point guard RYDER BRADLEY rode the momentum to back-to-back layups, and Nielsen scored six points in one minute to push the lead to 12. 
 
ROBERT CONRAD checked in shortly after and went off for 10 points in 11 minutes, making all four of his field goals, including a pair of 3-pointers, bookending a 16-0 run with a 3-pointer and a layup to blow the game open at 56-33. 
 
St. Edward's shot 17-for-27 (63 percent) in the second half, hitting half of its eight 3-point attempts. Kay and Conrad combined for 23 points, with Kay shooting 4-for-5 and making all four free-throw attempts. The Hilltoppers assisted on nine of their 17 field goals and forced 11 turnovers with four steals. 
 
Nielsen led four Hilltoppers in double figures with 18 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Kay finished with 15, Bradley added 12 points, seven rebounds, and three steals, and all 10 of Conrad's points came in the second half. Sul Ross State failed to have a single scorer reach double figures. 
 
St. Edward's improves to 10-0, pushing forward its best start since the 2014-2015 season. The Hilltoppers will continue conference play on Saturday, hosting Western New Mexico University at 3:00 p.m.