AUSTIN, Texas — St. Edward's posted its best 3-point shooting performance of the season, splitting its weekend road trip through the musical chairs of nationally ranked teams that define the Lone Star Conference with an 84–81 win over No. 19 Eastern New Mexico on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Hilltoppers set the tone early with one of their sharpest offensive halves of the season, burying 10 first-half 3-pointers at a 62.5 percent clip while shooting 53.8 percent from the floor to open a 47–38 halftime lead.
 
Freshman point guard RYDER BRADLEY led the surge with 10 first-half points on perfect shooting, going 3-for-3 from the field — including 2-for-2 from beyond the arc — and 2-for-2 from the line, adding a pair of assists. St. Edward's moved the ball expertly with no single focal point, assisting on 13 of its 14 made field goals in the half. The movement was reflected in the shot distribution, as wings MASON COURTNEY and CONOR MCMANUS scored eight points apiece, each knocking down two 3-pointers.

McManus, Bradley, and Courtney reeled off a 9–0 run with three straight triples late in the first half, and St. Edward's built its lead to as many as 13 on a BLAKE NIELSEN 3-pointer with 1:18 remaining before settling for a 47–38 advantage at the break.

Eastern New Mexico steadied its defense in the second half, forcing the Hilltoppers away from their balanced approach, but seniors Nielsen and McManus were more than up to the task.

Nielsen carried St. Edward's scoring after halftime, pouring in 15 of his team-high 21 points on 6-for-12 shooting, including three 3-pointers. McManus stayed in rhythm, spacing the floor with 13 second-half points on 5-for-8 shooting — also hitting three triples — as the Hilltoppers extended the lead to as many as 15 midway through the half.

Eastern New Mexico refused to go quietly. The Greyhounds leaned into their transition attack and interior presence, trimming the deficit possession by possession behind Austin Abrams and Mo Austin, who combined for 21 second-half points. ENMU tied the game at 79 with 1:38 remaining, punctuating the rally with a fast-break dunk from Jose Murillo off a feed from Cooper Jackson.

St. Edward's responded with composure.

McManus slipped inside for a putback layup on a second-chance opportunity to reclaim the lead, and Courtney delivered the defining blow moments later, knocking down a 3-pointer with 25 seconds remaining to push the Hilltoppers ahead 84–79. Eastern New Mexico managed one final basket, but St. Edward's closed out the final seconds to secure the ranked road victory.

McManus and Nielsen led the Hilltoppers with 21 points apiece, combining to shoot 11-for-19 from the field and 8-for-14 from deep. Bradley added 12 points and five assists, while Courtney chipped in 11, including the late dagger. SAM MCKINNEY provided a steady spark off the bench with eight points and four rebounds in 22 minutes.

St. Edward's finished the afternoon shooting 50 percent from 3-point range (17-of-34), overcoming a fast-break disadvantage by valuing possessions late and executing in the game's biggest moments.

With the win, St. Edward's improves to 15–3 overall and 4–3 in LSC play, adding another statement road victory to a résumé built on resilience, shot-making, and late-game resolve.