Abram Choate, SID

BROWNWOOD, TX – The HPU post players Wheeler and McGuire combined for 55 points to boost HPU past the Patriots of University of Texas at Tyler 97-91 on Saturday in the Brownwood Coliseum.

Even though HPU was out rebounded 45 to 31 by UT-Tyler, HPU's defense forced 19 turnovers while only having 9. Both team shot over 50% from the floor in the game, and HPU shot 14 more free-throws in the game than UT-Tyler.

UT-Tyler went up by 4 on a jumper by Brandon Weasby at 18:25 in the first half. HPU tied it up at 8-8 with 16:50 left in the first before jumper out to an 18-11 lead with 13:53 on the clock. The Jackets built their lead to as much as 8 before the UTT when on a 14-3 run to close out the half and to go into the locker room up 51-46 UTT.

HPU scored 5 points in the first minute of the second half to take a 1 point lead 52-52. UTT made another small run to increase their lead to 6 with 14:44 to play in the game. The Jackets took the lead again with 9:09 on the clock on a lay-up by Sr. C Cliff McGuire(Haskell HS) and increased it to 5 on a free-throw by Jamarcus Johnson(Beaver County CC). UTT tied it up at 80-80 with 5:25 left to play before HPU was able to take the lead for good and close out the game with a 97-91 victory.

Jr. F Sean Wheeler(San Angelo-Lake View HS) scored a career high 30 points while also grabbing 10 rebounds. Cliff McGuire rounded out the great inside play for the Jackets by scoring 25. Jr. G Kendrick Johnson(Willowridge HS) scored 25 and Jamarcus Johnson scored 13. Sr. G Matt Zinser(Burnet HS) had 7 steals and 8 rebounds.