01/17/05- Sul Ross ended an unfriendly five-game road stretch Monday evening with a 79-78 conference loss to Howard Payne in Brownwood.
The loss is Sully’s third straight giving the Lobos a 10-3 and 8-3 season and conference mark.
After leading by a digit (41-40) at intermission, the Lobos faced a tug-of-war contest in the second half which ended at the free throw line with one tick on the clock and the Jackets ahead 79-77. Sid Hooper’s (Andrews) foul shot pulled the Lobos within one but time expired giving Howard Payne the victory.
Sul Ross shot 41% from the field as a team (32% from long distance). The Lobos saw improvement at the charity stripe hitting 80% of its foul shots.
Hooper and teammate Derric Workman (Odessa) stacked up 18 points apiece in the effort. New Mexico natives Justin Steward (Texico) and Rick Herrera (Alamogordo) tallied 11 and 10 rebounds respectively.
The Lobos will have a welcomed homecoming of sorts on Thursday as they return to the Gallego Center for 7:30 p.m. matchup with the Texas Lutheran Bulldogs.