The loss drops ETBU to 3-5 overall and 3-3 in conference play, while Howard Payne improves to 5-3 and 4-2.
Isom got a good look at the 3-pointer which would have tied the game, and the Tigers didn't want the ball in anyone else's hand -- the senior All-American finished with a game-high 26 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists, and needs just 2 more assists to become ETBU's all-time leader. He was also hampered in the second half by foul trouble after picking up his fourth foul less than a minute into the second half.
The Tigers battled back from a 65-52 deficit early in the second half to tie the game at 71 with just over 7 minutes to go. But Howard Payne wouldn't allow ETBU to grab the lead, bumping the lead back to as much as 6 in the final minutes.
But a steal and 3-point play with under a minute to go by the Tigers' Cory Cooper got ETBU back to within two, 84-82, which set the stage for the Isom's potential game-tying shot at the end.
The Yellowjackets placed all five starters in double figures, led by 16 apiece by Kendrick Johnson and Cliff McGuire. All five starters also played at least 33 minutes, with HPU getting just 22 minutes from its bench.
ETBU was also paced by Chris Isom, who scored 19 points and had a game-high 12 rebounds. No other Tiger scored more than Melvin Allen's 9 points.
The Tigers will close out the 2005 portion of the schedule on Thursday, hosting cross-town rival Wiley College at 5:30 p.m. ETBU will then be off for the Christmas holidays until Jan. 6, when the travel to Belton to face Mary Hardin-Baylor.