AUSTIN, TX- UAFS junior guards Seth Hawley and Tyler Williams each scored in double-figures for UAFS but that wasn’t quite enough for the Lions to hold off a second-half surge by nationally-ranked St. Edward’s on Saturday.
UAFS only trailed No. 4/6 St. Edward’s by four points at halftime after leading most of the first half, but the Hilltoppers shot 50 percent from the field in the second half and made 13 of 17 free throws to pull away for an 86-65 Heartland Conference win at the Recreation and Convocation Center in Austin, Texas.
St. Edward’s (23-2, 12-1) swept the regular-season series against UAFS (9-16, 3-10) and remained atop the conference standings.
Hawley had 19 points and Williams 16 for the Lions, who trailed 35-31 at halftime. UAFS shot 42 percent from the field (25 of 59) – it was 7-of-26 shooting from 3-point range – and shot 62 percent from the free-throw line (8 of 13).
Hawley also had a team-high seven rebounds, but the Lions were still out-rebounded by 14 rebounds (47-33). UAFS allowed 20 offensive rebounds that led to 14 second-chance points for St. Edward’s.
St. Edward’s shot 44 percent from the field (31 of 70) – it was 11-of-32 shooting from 3-point range – and shot 77 percent from the free-throw line (13 of 17). Ashton Spears led the Hilltoppers with 22 points, while Corey Shervill had 17, Dorian Lopez 16 and August Haas 11.
Lopez had a team-high eight rebounds.
UAFS led by as many as 10 points in the first half, but St. Edward’s rallied to tie the game at 31 points apiece with 3:10 left in the half and took the lead on a pair of free throws by Spears with 2:18 left to play. The Hilltoppers held the Lions scoreless the final three minutes of the half and extended their lead to four points at halftime.
St. Edward’s pushed this lead to double-digits for good midway through the second half.
It was the first of four final regular-season games for the UAFS, which will host Texas A&M International at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday and St. Mary’s at 3 p.m. on Saturday before finishing the season against Oklahoma Christian at 8 p.m. on Feb. 28 at the Eagles Nest in Oklahoma City.
MEN
HEARTLAND CONFERENCE
NO. 4/6 ST. EDWARD’S 86, UAFS 65
UAFS 31 34 — 65
St. Edward’s 35 51 — 86
UAFS (9-16, 3-10): Hawley 19, Williams 16, Crawford 9, Parker 5, Morgan 4, Boyer 4, Warren 3, Ekezie 3, Sivins 2
St. Edward’s (23-2, 12-1): Spears 22, Shervill 17, Lopez 16, Haas 11, McKendree 8, Garza 6, Cook 4, Carcanagues 2
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