AUSTIN, Texas – A late lead in regulation couldn't hold, and the Newman men's basketball team fell, 88-85, in overtime at St. Edward's. With the loss, the Jets missed the Heartland Conference Tournament by one game at 11-9 and are 15-11 overall.
 
With 5 minutes remaining in regulation, NU built an 11-point lead at 78-67 after a Reggie Baker layup.
 
Consecutive baskets from Frankie Mgbolu cut the NU lead to 78-71 with 2:57 left. James Pegues put the Jets up by nine at 80-71 with 2:16 remaining.
 
The Hilltoppers hit a 3 with 2:03 left to pull to within four at 80-74. A foul on Ryan McCarthy trying to fight through a screen put SEU at the free throw line with 1:14 left. SEU's John Gramlich made the first, but the second one missed. The Hilltoppers grabbed the rebound, and Gramlich put in a layup with 1:11 left for an 80-77 score. He was fouled on the basket and made the free throw for an 80-78 score.
 
Trying to run some clock, the Jets turned the ball over with 52 seconds left. Gramlich missed a 3 to give SEU the lead, but the Hilltoppers got the long rebound. A loose ball foul was called on Pegues, his fifth, with 8 seconds left to put SEU at the line. SEU made both free throws for the 80-80 tie.
 
The Jets had a chance at the end, but contact wasn't called, and regulation ended at 80-80.
 
Jeremy Espinoza scored the first basket of overtime for an early 82-80 NU lead. SEU put in two straight baskets to go up 84-82 with 3:28 remaining. McCarthy knotted the score at 84-84 with a layup.
 
At the 2:39 mark, SEU scored to take an 86-84 lead. The Jets missed back-to-back field goals on their next two possessions, and the Hilltoppers hit a layup with 29 seconds left to go in front, 88-84.
 
Espinoza made one of two free throws to pull the Jets to within three at 88-85.
The Jets had a chance after an SEU turnover with 5 seconds left. McCarthy missed from 3, and Cortrael Colbert's 3 missed as well at the buzzer. The Hilltoppers held on for the win.
 
Baker scored a game-high 29 points on 12-of-21 shooting. He added three rebounds, two assists and one steal. Jeremy Espinoza totaled 17 points in his final game. He pulled down seven rebounds. James Pegues added 11 points and eight rebounds, but fouled out late in regulation.
 
The Jets finished at 47.8 percent (33-69) from the field. NU made seven 3s and shot 38.9 percent from 3.
 
SEU shot 45.2 percent (33-73). They struggled from the free throw line, going 14-of-24 for 58.3 percent.
 
John Gramlich scored 26 points a team high for SEU. He hit four 3s. Frankie Mgbolu totaled a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds.
 
NU finishes at 15-11 and 11-9 in the Heartland Conference.