BROWNWOOD, Texas – The Howard Payne University men's basketball team opened its 2023-24 season with a 79-70 loss to Schreiner University Wednesday evening at the Brownwood Coliseum.

Ben Phillips led Howard Payne with 19 points on 5 of 9 three-point shooting. Jarod Johnson followed with 12 points and Armonie Ramey added a team-high 10 rebounds.

The Yellow Jackets were outrebounded 55-34 in the game by the Mountaineers. HPU won the turnover battle committing 14 while forcing 20.

The Jackets trailed by 15 with five minutes left but rallied to pull within eight, 77-69 with two minutes left. That was as close as HPU would get and Schreiner secured the game 79-70.

Schreiner was led by Beau Cervantes with 28 points and Kamden Ross with 20 rebounds.

The Yellow Jackets will play next on Friday at home versus Austin College at 6:00 pm.