FORT SMITH, Ark. – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Men's Basketball couldn't slow down a hot-shooting St. Edward's University Saturday evening at the Stubblefield Center, with the Hilltoppers taking the season finale, 88-75.

St. Edward's (10-7, 10-7 LSC) shot 58.9 percent from the floor and 50.0 percent from beyond the arc, scoring 44 points in each half.

The Lions (5-11, 5-11 LSC) shot the ball well themselves, as well, shooting 49.0 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from three-point range.

The teams went back-and-forth in the opening minutes until the Hilltoppers broke a 14-14 tie with a 9-0 run. A three by senior guard Matthew Wilson briefly brought the Lions within seven, but the Hilltoppers extended the lead to as many as 15 points before the Lions ended the half on a 5-0 run to trail at the break, 44-34.

UAFS hovered around a 10-point deficit until a layup by junior guard Daryl McElrath pulled the Lions within 64-56 at the 9:43 mark. St. Edward's quickly extended the lead to 13 before a pair of Lions layups once again cut the deficit to single digits.

That was as close as the Lions would get, with St. Edward's leading by as many as 18 points before the Lions cut it to the final margin.

Both Wilson and freshman guard Payton Brown led the Lions with 22 points, going a combined 15-for-24 from the field and 7-for-14 from beyond the arc.

Freshman forward Justus Cooper narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds, while sophomore guard Evan Anderson added eight points and eight assists. McElrath also scored eight points.

UAFS won the battle on the boards, 31-24, but St. Edward's had advantages of 20-6 and 36-24 in points off turnovers and points in the paint, respectively.

The Lions finished the season 5-11, with all 16 games in Lone Star Conference action. They finished 3-3 in the LSC North Division.