Patriots score win over St. Ed's

UT Tyler men's basketball took down St. Edward's 75-72 on Thursday thanks in large part to key defensive plays and a monster night from Mareng Gatkuoth at the Herrington Patriot Center.

Gatkuoth scored 29 points on the night while burying seven 3-pointers and adding four assists and three rebounds to help the Patriots to their fourth LSC win.

The Patriots shot 44% from the field and 36% from beyond the arc and St. Edward's shot 44% from the field and 30% from deep in a nearly identical game for both sides.

UT Tyler improved to 7-7 on the season and 4-4 in the Lone Star Conference. The Hilltoppers are 10-6 and 4-3.

Dontrell Hewlett added in a huge floater with 1:44 remaining to put the Patriots up three, setting up a dramatic final two minutes.

Gatkuoth hit a corner 3-pointer with 41 seconds remaining to give UT Tyler a 73-70 lead.

After Lewis Rowe hit a floater in the lane to bring the Hilltoppers within 73-72 at 17 marks, the Patriots turned the ball over on the inbound pass. 

But UT Tyler's Sam Phipps made the defensive play of the night, swatting away an interior pass and allowing the Patriots to corral the steal and take the win. Gatkuoth made two free throws with two seconds remaining for the final score of 75-72.

All but two players who entered the game for the Patriots got into the scoring column, with Dontrell Hewlett the second-leading scorer with nine. He added a team high six assists and seven rebounds. Phipps added six points while also grabbing a team high 11 rebounds and team highs in both steals and blocks with three.

UT Tyler now looks to continue their big week as they host St. Mary's on Saturday afternoon inside the Herrington Patriot Center. The women's game is scheduled for 1 p.m., followed by the men at 3 p.m.