Abram Choate, SID
ABILENE, Texas – The Yellow Jackets of Howard Payne could only muster 36.9% shooting as the Cowboys Hardin-Simmons defeated Howard Payne, 84-70 at the Mabee Complex in Abilene on Saturday afternoon in American Southwest Conference action.
The Cowboys came out and controlled the tempo early in the game and Matt Brackett's 3-pointer at the buzzer gave HSU a 40-32 halftime lead.
HSU pushed the lead to as many as 13, before Howard Payne made a run to cut it to 57-56 with 8:45 to play in the game. The Cowboys then rallied to a 66-56 lead with 7:13 to play. The Jackets never threatened again.
Jr. G Kendrick Johnson(Willowridge HS) led Howard Payne with 20 points. Jr. F Sean Wheeler(Lake View HS) and So. G Lee Scott(Snyder HS) (in his first start of this season) scored 15 and 14 respectively.
For Hardin-Simmons, Zach Pickelman scored 28 points and Mardochee Jean added 15 points, 17 rebounds and nine blocks.
Howard Payne is back in action on the road this Monday against Sul Ross State at 6:00pm.
