AUSTIN, TX – The University of St. Thomas' Men's Basketball team dropped an 84-72 exhibition matchup against St. Edward's University. The Celts trailed 46-41 at halftime and continued to battle in the second half, cutting the deficit to four points before St. Edward's pulled away late.

UST opened the game with a 2-0 lead when Corey Thompson converted a stepback jumper following a turnover. Omar Gayle and Garrett Rodgers added baskets as the Celts moved ahead 6-2, and a three-pointer from Nathan Kongolo helped UST maintain its advantage. After St. Edward's tied the game at 11-11, Thompson and Gayle answered with baskets to put the Celts back in front, 16-11. Thompson and Rodgers continued to contribute as UST extended its lead to 22-13.
St. Edward's responded with a series of three-pointers to close the gap, but a jumper from Jai Guerra-Howard kept UST ahead, 24-19. Nicholas Buffalo added a basket off a turnover, while Guerra-Howard and Milton Rice scored to help the Celts maintain a four-point advantage at 32-28. St. Edward's regained the lead later in the half, and UST continued to answer. Gayle's jumper brought the Celts within one, and his turnaround jumper with six seconds remaining cut the halftime deficit to 46-41.

St. Edward's opened the second half with a three-pointer to extend their lead, but UST worked to close the gap. Charles Gitonga scored inside, and Kongolo added a pair of baskets to help the Celts stay within reach. Thompson converted at the basket, and Guerra-Howard added a fast-break layup making it an eight point deficit with the score being 53-60. Guerra-Howard's pull-up jumper and a layup from Buffalo brought the score to 57-63. Rice then delivered a fast-break dunk off a steal to pull UST within four, 59-63, with 12 minutes remaining.
The Celts continued to fight, with Buffalo adding a fast-break dunk off a Kongolo steal to make it 61-65. St. Edward's responded with a scoring run to rebuild its advantage, and Rice converted a free throw to make it 62-71 with 6:19 on the clock remaining. Thompson's stepback jumper and Kongolo's second-chance basket helped UST continue to score, while Gayle connected from three-point range to bring the Celts to 69-78. St. Edward's maintained its lead at the free-throw line and added a late basket to secure the 84-72 exhibition victory.

UST was led by Corey Thompson with 14 points and seven assists, while Omar Gayle added 13 points and four assists. Nathan Kongolo contributed 11 points, two assists, and a game-high four steals, and Garrett Rodgers finished with 10 points. As a team, the Celts recorded 31 field goals, including two three-pointers, and converted eight free throws. UST also totaled 22 rebounds, 16 assists, and 11 steals.

UP NEXT
The Celts travel to Abilene, Texas, to take on Hardin-Simmons University on Saturday, November 14, at 3PM.