AUSTIN, TEXAS – The UT Tyler men's basketball team battled throughout but ultimately came up short on the road, falling 95–61 to St. Edward's on Thursday night in Lone Star Conference action inside the Recreation and Athletic Center. Despite competitive stretches early and continued effort on both ends, the Patriots were unable to slow the Hilltoppers' shooting and transition offense, particularly as St. Edward's pulled away late in the first half.
The Patriots traded baskets with St. Edward's in the opening minutes, as Sam Phipps opened the scoring for UT Tyler before Sean Emfinger knocked down a three-pointer to tie the game at 5–5 at the 18-minute mark. UT Tyler continued to answer early runs, with Gregory Fowlds scoring inside and John Barbee connecting from beyond the arc to keep the Patriots within five midway through the half.
St. Edward's began to build separation behind strong perimeter shooting, extending the lead to double digits at the 13-minute mark. UT Tyler responded with interior scoring from Hudson Anderson and Noah Suarjaya, cutting the deficit to single digits at 28–19 with just under 10 minutes remaining. However, the Hilltoppers closed the half on a decisive run, using multiple three-pointers and fast-break opportunities to take a 50–26 lead into the break.
Coming out of halftime, UT Tyler continued to compete and found early offense as Phipps and Emfinger scored in the opening minutes. Emfinger added a three-pointer to pull the Patriots within 25, but St. Edward's maintained control with efficient shooting and steady ball movement, and the Hilltoppers pushed the lead past 30 midway through the second half.
The Patriots showed resilience down the stretch, getting scoring contributions from Suarjaya, Heath Tenner, Mate Kapanadze, and Chris Carpenter, who each knocked down shots late as UT Tyler continued to battle until the final horn. Despite the effort, St. Edward's maintained its advantage to secure the 95–61 decision.
UT Tyler finished the night with balanced scoring across the lineup, as 13 players recorded a point. Emfinger paced the Patriots in points with nine, and Phipps logged a team-high eight rebounds. UT Tyler will look to regroup quickly as the Patriots will face St. Mary's, who received votes in the latest national poll, in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday.
