The game was tied shortly before halftime when Howard Payne exploded to take an eight-point lead into the locker room at 42-34. The Yellow Jackets then shot 51 per cent from the field in the second half and took control of the game early after the teams returned to the floor. There were seven ties and seven lead changes in the game, but all of those came in the first half of play. HPU lead by as many as 22 points before a late UMHB run closed it to the final margin. The Crusaders shot just 39 per cent from the field in the game and hit just 13 per cent from three-point range. Howard Payne finished at 49 per cent from the field and 26 per cent from beyond the arc. UMHB did win the rebounding battle, grabbing 42 boards to HPU’s 37.
Adam Wiese had his first double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds and Justin Hejl added 16 points and seven boards for UMHB. Michael Blaylock came off the bench to score 12 points and add seven rebounds for the Crusaders. Benny West topped Howard Payne with 31 points and 10 rebounds and the nation’s leader in steals added eight more Thursday night. Tim Stary was the only other Yellow Jacket in double figures with 10 points.
The Crusaders will now travel to Alpine to take on ASC West Division leader Sul Ross State. That game is scheduled to tip off at 3:00 PM on Saturday. Howard Payne will host Concordia University in a 3:00 PM start on Saturday.