HPU Drops Season Opener

Abram Choate, SID

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The Howard Payne Yellow Jackets opened the 2008-09 season with a 74-106 loss to the University of the Incarnate Word Tuesday evening at the McDermott Center.

The Jackets turned the ball over 23 times in the game while only forcing 7. Incarnate Word out-rebounded the Yellow Jackets by just 38-35, but HPU was outshot from the floor 42.4% to Incarnate Word's 50.7%.

Howard Payne held an early 5 point lead, 11-6, on a three-pointer by Zane Smith with 17:06 on the clock. UIW stormed ahead sparked by defensive pressure and good three-point shooting to hold a 36-50 advantage at halftime.

The Jackets were able to cut the lead to 8 early in the second half, but UIW extended their lead and won 74-106.

The difference in the game was the performance of UIW's Pierce Caldwell who had 32 points and was 10 of 16 from behind the three point line.

Tom Hermann led the Jackets with 20 points and 5 rebounds. Keith Perry and Zane Smith added 14 and 13 points respectively. Bryan Blalock grabbed 7 rebounds.

The Jackets fall to 0-1 on the season, while Incarnate Word improves to 2-0 overall.

The Jackets play next a week from now in Alpine in an American Southwest Conference matchup with Sul Ross Sate at 5:00 pm.
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