KINGSVILLE, Texas - Both team were dead on from behind the arc on Community Night when the Javelinas took on the St. Edward's Hilltoppers on Sunday evening, but that Hilltoppers struck last just before the final buzzer to sneak out of the SPEC with the victory, 77-79.
The Javelinas (3-9, LSC 1-6) finish 1-1 on the weekend after picking up their first Lone Star Conference victory on Thursday. The Hilltoppers (11-4, LSC 4-2) pick up their third win in a row and their eighth win in their last ten.
Both the Hogs and the Hilltoppers came out firing to open the matchup as the teams combined for five three-pointers in just the first five minutes of the game. The teams shot a combined 10-of-28 from three-point range in the first half, taking turns controlling the lead for minutes at a time. An 11-4 run by the Javelinas saw them take a six-point lead into the locker room after the first 20 minutes, 40-34.
The three-point shots slowed their pace in the second half, but both teams were still hot all around the floor. The Hilltoppers quickly cut the defecit to open the second half, but the Hogs pushed right back to extend the lead back to seven. St. Edward's used a combination of threes and free throws to grab the lead just before the halfway mark, but could not get far before the Javelinas grabbed it right back.
Leading by 10 with just over four minutes remaining, the Javelinas were looking to secure their second win in a row for the first time this season, but a well-executed Hilltopper full court press down the stretch saw the lead gradually reduced until it stood at just one point entering the final minute.
The Hilltoppers drove the lane and put in the go-ahead layup with 16 seconds left on the clock to take a one-point lead of their own, but
C.J. Smith responded on the other end with a floater of his own to give the lead back to the Hogs with six seconds remaining. However, after snatching a win from St. Mary's on Thursday on a heave from half court, the Javelinas found themselves on the other end of such an play, as a running prayer from ten feet behind the three-point line by the Hilltoppers found its mark, ultimately giving St. Edward's the win, 79-77.
Smith and
Jason Clark were the top scorers for the Hogs for the second game in a row in a game where four Javelinas scored in double figures. Smith and Clark both finished with 16 points with Clark leading the team in rebounding with seven total boards.
Smith nabbed two steals for his stat line, bringing his total for the year up to 26. He has grabbed at least one steal ten games in a row and has only had one game without a steal the entire year.
Marcus Jones-Green was a major contributor for the Hog offense all night, finishing just behind Clark and Smith with 15 points of his own and leading the team in assists with six as well as three rebounds.
Kendrick Washington put up an impressive performance as well, totaling up 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting alongside six total rebounds, an assist, and two blocks.
UP NEXT
The Javelinas are on the road for the next two weeks, starting off with Arkansas-Fort Smith on Jan. 11 at 7:30 p.m., then meeting Oklahoma Christian on Jan. 13 at 3 p.m.
