BROWNWOOD, Texas - The Howard Payne University men's basketball team got a game high 24 points from Khyce Randall in the Yellow Jackets 86-73 home opener victory over Southwestern University Saturday afternoon at the Brownwood Coliseum.

Howard Payne out rebounded Southwestern 41-33 and held the normally heavy outside shooting Pirates to just four three point buckets (4 of 19), all in the first half. 

Down by as much as seven in the first period, the Jackets tied the game at 22-22 with 9:31 left in the first on a De'Marcus Hurd jumper. Then HPU used a push in the closing minutes of the first half to hold a 38-32 halftime lead.

Howard Payne would not relinquish its lead pushing it to as much as 18 on a jumped by Cody Hastings with 6:29 left in the game.

Randall's 24 points came mainly on his 6 of 7 shooting from behind the arc, he also had a team high eight rebounds and four assists. HPU's De'Marcus Hurd followed with 19 points, he was 4 of 8 from the three point line. Shadd Colle added 10 points for the Jackets.

Southwestern was led by Ryan Ogden with 18 points and seven rebounds followed by Ryan Wheeler with 15 points.

Howard Payne is now 2-4 overall and Southwestern is also 2-4 on the year. The Jackets will play next on Sat., Dec. 9th in an exhibition game at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. It will be 2:00 pm start time.