HONOLULU — St. Edward's men's basketball found its shooting touch early and its defensive footing after halftime, turning a five-point deficit into a 90-76 victory over Adelphi on Saturday at McCabe Gym.
CONOR MCMANUS scored a career-high 26 points on blistering 10-for-13 shooting, including six 3-pointers, while an early second-half lineup change helped the Hilltoppers turn defensive pressure into separation.
Five Hilltoppers scored in double figures as St. Edward's rebounded from Friday's season-opening loss to improve to 1-1. DONOVAN SANTORO contributed 15 points and nine rebounds, SEAN ELKINTON scored all 14 of his points after halftime, and ROBERT CONRAD and PARKER HANNAH added 10 apiece.
McManus supplied the early offense, opening the game with a 3-pointer off Conrad's assist and adding another in transition from NOLAN BARKLEY. The fifth-year guard accounted for all but two of St. Edward's first 15 points, mixing three triples with finishes around the basket.
Adelphi countered by attacking the paint and getting production from its bench. Jeremiah Gorham scored nine early points, including a transition layup following a steal, while Vlad Popa gave the Panthers an interior presence.
Popa made two free throws, grabbed a defensive rebound, and scored on a transition drive, then added a tip-in as Adelphi stretched its advantage. Austin Workman followed with a 3-pointer to put the Panthers ahead 30-21 with 9:44 remaining.
The Hilltoppers stayed within reach, but Adelphi carried a 46-41 halftime lead on 22 points in the paint and 21 from the bench. Popa accounted for 11 points and eight rebounds before the break, while McManus kept St. Edward's close with 15 points.
Elkinton started the second-half response, finishing a McManus pass inside and converting the accompanying free throw. He then blocked an Adelphi attempt at the rim before the Hilltoppers turned to Kahozi with 18:15 remaining, trailing 46-44.
Playing alongside Conrad, Hannah, McManus, and Santoro, Kahozi helped anchor a 13-3 stretch over 4:18, with the group collecting three steals. With Kahozi protecting the interior, St. Edward's began turning stops into opportunities to run.
Hannah found McManus for a transition 3-pointer to take the lead, and Conrad followed with a steal and driving layup. McManus collected another steal, then fed Hannah for a finish inside.
Santoro drove for a basket following another Adelphi turnover. Moments later, McManus came away with his second steal of the stretch and found Hannah for a transition layup, completing a 14-0 start to the half for a 55-46 lead.
The Hilltoppers held Adelphi scoreless for the opening four minutes after halftime. Kahozi later blocked Trevor Whitaker's jumper and grabbed the rebound, and Hannah finished another drive to extend the lead to 57-49.
Adelphi responded with seven consecutive points to cut the lead to 57-56, but Hannah stopped the run with a floater, and Elkinton stripped Popa before finishing inside.
When the Panthers closed within two again, Santoro answered at both ends of the floor. He knocked down a 3-pointer off CAMDEN COWGILL's assist, then stole the ball from Elijah Peters and finished a transition dunk. Between those baskets, Kahozi rejected Ethan Maynard for his second block.
Santoro then found Cowgill for a layup, pushing the lead to 68-59.
Adelphi made another push behind Joaquin Andrews, whose basket and 3-pointer cut the margin to four with 6:23 remaining. St. Edward's answered with the stretch that finally put the game away.
Elkinton made two free throws and connected on a 3-pointer off Conrad's assist. Cowgill followed with a driving layup, and McManus buried another triple to finish a 10-0 run for a 78-64 lead with 3:44 left.
The Hilltoppers maintained a double-digit advantage the rest of the way, with McManus adding a pull-up jumper and his sixth 3-pointer to complete his 26-point afternoon.
St. Edward's shot 60.6 percent after halftime and limited Adelphi to 36.4 percent, outscoring the Panthers 49-30 over the final 20 minutes. The Hilltoppers finished with a 48-34 advantage in paint scoring and converted 15 turnovers into 22 points.
McManus added five rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Conrad led St. Edward's with four steals, Barkley distributed five assists, and Cowgill finished with seven points, four rebounds, and four assists without a turnover. Kahozi contributed two points, two rebounds, and two blocks in eight minutes.
Peters led Adelphi with 19 points, while Andrews and Popa each scored 16. The Panthers fell to 0-2.
