ALPINE, Tx.- A sixth season double-double by C.J. Acosta helped to lead the Sul Ross State University Lobos to an 89-82 home conference over Howard Payne on Monday.
Sidney Hooper led scorers with 27 points followed by Tury Escobar’s 22.
Sully led for most of the opening period but by no more than 10 points as the Lobos went to the break with a 43-35 advantage.
Sully spread the gap by 10 with a jumper by Aaron Hardwick to open the second half with Sul Ross leading HPU, 45-35 at the 18:58 mark. Sul Ross would then put up a 15 point lead before Howard Payne narrowed the spread by 2, 73-71 with 3:02 left in regulation. Two shots from long range by Hooper and Escobar would then put the Pack on top 79-71 with 2:04 left in the contest. HPU pulled within 2 again with 27 seconds left, trailing Sully 84-82. Sully went on a 5-0 run with a series of free throws which put the Lobos up for the 89-82 final.
HPU’s Sean Wheeler led Jacket scorers with 26 points. Post man Cliff McGuire sported a double-double of 13 points and 16 boards.
For the game, Sul Ross posted a 47% shooting percentage from the field in Monday’s win. The Lobos converted 22 of 30 free throws, good for 73%.
The Jackets have dropped 3 straight and go to 16-6 for the season and 16-5 in conference play. A McMurry win against Concordia on Thursday paired with another loss by HPU against Texas Lutheran could lift the Indians to a first place seed in the West.
The Lobos improve to 11-12 and 11-9 in league play. Sul Ross needs wins in their next two games coupled with a 2-game loss this week by Hardin-Simmons to have a chance at the fourth place slot currently held by the Cowboys.
Newspaper Box Score Howard Payne vs Sul Ross State 02/13/06 6:00 p.m. at Alpine, Texas (Pete P. Gallego Center) At Alpine, Texas (Pete P. Gallego Center) SUL ROSS STATE 89, HOWARD PAYNE 82 HOWARD PAYNE (16-6, 15-5 (ASC)) Sean Wheeler 11-15 4-5 26; Kendrick Johnson 6-16 1-2 14; Cliff McGuire 6-10 1-2 13; Matt Zinser 4-9 1-3 9; Eldrick Spivey 2-4 1-2 6; Josh Weatherred 2-4 0-0 6; Travis Dawson 1-1 0-0 3; Tom Hermann 1-1 0-2 2; Victor Hayes 1-2 0-0 2; Peter McCallum 0-0 1-2 1; Lee Scott 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 34-66 9-18 82. SUL ROSS STATE (11-12, 11-9(ASC)) Sidney Hooper 10-21 4-7 27; Arturo Escobar 8-14 2-2 22; C.J. Acosta 6-13 3-5 16; Aaron Hardwick 2-4 4-6 9; Matt Santa Cruz 3-7 3-3 9; Jesus Banuelos 0-2 6-7 6; Abraham Ely 0-1 0-0 0; Richard Hooper 0-1 0-0 0; Travis Johnson 0-1 0-0 0; Moises Morales 0-0 0-0 0; Cornell Hunt 0-0 0-0 0; Art Gonzalez 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-65 22-30 89. Howard Payne.................. 35 47 - 82 Sul Ross State................ 43 46 - 89 3-point goals-Howard Payne 5-18 (Josh Weatherred 2-4; Eldrick Spivey 1-3; Travis Dawson 1-1; Kendrick Johnson 1-5; Lee Scott 0-4; Matt Zinser 0-1), Sul Ross State 9-27 (Arturo Escobar 4-7; Sidney Hooper 3-9; Aaron Hardwick 1-2; C.J. Acosta 1-6; Travis Johnson 0-1; Art Gonzalez 0-1; Matt Santa Cruz 0-1). Fouled out--Howard Payne-Josh Weatherred; Matt Zinser, Sul Ross State-None. Rebounds-Howard Payne 42 (Cliff McGuire 16), Sul Ross State 39 (C.J. Acosta 12). Assists-Howard Payne 14 (Kendrick Johnson 6), Sul Ross State 13 (C.J. Acosta 3; Arturo Escobar 3). Total fouls-Howard Payne 24, Sul Ross State 15. A-231