Box Score
AUSTIN, Texas — Talk about wrecking a party.
St. Mary's Men's Basketball overcame an early 15-point deficit — and a lengthy delay caused by an inconsiderate bat that made an appearance in the arena mid-game — to defeat St. Edward's 73-70 on the road Saturday.
Spurred on by their Rowdy Rattlers, St. Mary's student cheering section that made the trip north, StMU spoiled the Hilltoppers' Senior Day festivities with a thrilling win at the buzzer — all while those same Rattler fans filed out of St. Edward's Recreation and Convocation Center chanting, "This is our house!"
Marvin Whitt sank a pair of free throws with six seconds remaining to put the Rattlers up three, and they survived at the buzzer as Tyler Foster's 3-pointer was off the mark as time expired.
Marvin Binney led St. Mary's (18-7, 11-6 in Heartland) with 17 points, while Whitt finished with 15.
Ryan Thomas added 12 off the bench.
The Rattlers have already clinched a spot in the Heartland Conference Tournament, held March 7-8 at the site of the top seed, which will be either Texas A&M International or Arkansas-Fort Smith. StMU, currently the third seed, is battling Texas-Permian Basin for the third seed. The Rattlers, who wrap up their regular season at home against Texas A&M International on March 1, own a 1 ½-game lead over UTPB, which still has two games left to play.
Against St. Edward's (10-14, 6-10), the Rattlers overcame an early 23-8 deficit to enter the half trailing just 32-27. The Snakes grabbed their first lead since the early moments of the game on a Whitt layup three minutes into the second half for a 35-34 advantage.
St. Mary's led by eight, 65-57, when
Joe Monroe threw down a thunderous dunk with 2:43 left. The Hilltoppers cut it to one on a John Gramlich 3-pointer with seven seconds remaining, but would draw no closer as St. Mary's prevailed for the key "Battle of the Saints" victory.
