Coming off a tough pre-holiday loss, Howard Payne Men's Basketball returned from Thanksgiving break looking refreshed and refocused — and the Jackets delivered, grinding out an 81–79 road win at Texas Lutheran on Sunday afternoon.

HPU used a fast start and a big first half to set the tone, dropping 47 points before the break and forcing 12 Bulldog turnovers. Armonie Ramey led the way with 19 points and four steals, consistently sparking transition opportunities. Ben Phillip and Nathan Scott each added 13 points, with Phillip connecting on three huge first-half threes. Trey Jackson chipped in 12 points, while Jordan McClendon added nine points and three assists.

The Jackets' depth also played a major role, outscoring TLU 28–17 in bench points and getting timely sparks throughout the rotation.

After leading 47–46 at halftime, HPU continued to make plays late — highlighted by a pair of key steals, tough finishes in the paint, and clutch defensive stops in the final minute. The Bulldogs tied things several times, but the Jackets responded each time, showing the resilience of a team determined to bounce back.

HPU shot 47% from the field, forced 19 turnovers, and turned them into 24 points on the other end. The Jackets also outscored TLU 42–38 in the paint and 21–15 in fast-break points.

With the win, Howard Payne improves to 6–2 on the season and the Jackets will return to action on Wednesday December 3rd at Tarleton State in Stephenville.