In the Heartland Conference Championship Tournament, St. Edward’s University men’s basketball team had a run that earned Head Coach Andre Cook his 100th career win in Game 1 and had an overtime, season-ending loss in Game 2.

Heading into the Heartland Conference Tournament, the men’s basketball team was named the No. 5 seed. After the quarterfinals win and semi-finals loss, St. Edward’s finished their season with an overall 18-12 record.

“We played terrific this weekend,” Cook said. “It was just a great Friday night against A&M International. We played great on Saturday and had a chance to win it. But that kind of sums up our season, really. We’ve had five games where had the ball to win it, and didn’t win any of them.”

Cook said these close losses were the difference between finishing 18-12 and possibly 23-7 with an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Quarterfinals:

In a well-fought game, St. Edward’s defeated the No. 4 Texas A&M International University 84-69 on March 4.

Several players had double-digit numbers, but Cook highlights junior guard John Gramlich, who went 4-for-5 from the three-point line and earned 16 points with five rebounds. Cook considered this quarterfinals win “a true team effort,” particularly on the defensive end.

Although this win was critical for advancement, it was also a milestone for Cook.

Receiving congratulatory texts from former players, teammates, as well as his former high school and college coaches, Cook said, “It’s a nice reminder of all the comradery you have in coaching business. I admire our players and I love coaching here at St. Edward’s – so I hope there’s another 100 and then maybe another 100.”

Semifinals:      

Attempting for win 101, St. Edward’s was set to face the conference’s top team No. 1 University of Arkansas – Fort Smith in the semi-finals.

Despite Fort Smith’s early lead, the Hilltoppers battled back, tying the game at 71 in the final minute, forcing an overtime period. In the end, St. Edward’s lost 82-79 – ending their season.

Four seniors played their final game in a St. Edward’s jersey on March 5: Frank Mgbolu, Trey Lindsey, Quinton Lilley and Corey Guderyahn. All four already have their bachelor’s degrees and hope to start their respective careers in business, coaching, sports journalism and teaching professions.

“They have meant so much to our program,” Cook said. “We’re proud of how they’ve conducted themselves as students, how they set the tone here of hard work and discipline on and off the court and what they are going to become.”

The three players who earned Heartland Conference honors: Mgbolu, Gramlich and junior guard Ramir Burton.