The two teams traded the lead 10 times in the second half and were tied four times. UMHB took a five-point advantage at 65-60 with 4:38 remaining in the game. HPU promptly went on a 16-2 run to take a nine-point lead with 44 seconds left in the game. UMHB cut the lead to six points with 23 seconds left on the clock, but HPU hit a pair of free throws and UMHB missed two shots on its final possession. The Crusaders shot just 40 per cent from the field while Howard Payne hit 45 per cent. The Crusaders also went 11-18 from the free-throw line while the Yellow Jackets nailed 15-24.
Justin Schwartz led UMHB with 17 points and 10 rebounds and Kevin Guyden also scored 17 points. Patrick Oliver had 11 points for UMHB. Kendrick Johnson led Howard Payne with 22 points and he also grabbed nine rebounds while Sean Wheeler had 15 points and 10 boards. Josh Weatherred and Lee Scott scored 12 points apiece and Cliff McGuire added 10 points and eight rebounds for the Yellow Jackets.
The UMHB men will now return home to host a pair of ASC West Division games next week. The Crusaders will take on Concordia University in a 7:30 PM start on Tuesday night before welcoming Schreiner University to the Mayborn Campus Center for a 7:30 PM tip-off on Thursday. The UMHB men will then close out the week with a 3:00 PM start at Texas Lutheran University Saturday in Seguin.