Howard Payne came up just short in a hard-fought battle Tuesday night, falling 78–77 to Austin College in a game that went down to the final possession. The Yellow Jackets competed for all 40 minutes and showed strong offensive balance, but a narrow margin ultimately decided the contest.

Howard Payne set the tone early and carried momentum through much of the first half, building a lead behind aggressive play on the offensive end. The Jackets continued to answer every Austin College run after halftime, keeping the game within one or two possessions throughout the final stretch.

Armonie Ramey led Howard Payne with a game-high 22 points, consistently getting to the free-throw line and converting in key moments down the stretch. Ben Phillip followed with 20 points, providing steady scoring and efficiency from the field as the Jackets leaned on him in crucial possessions. The duo combined to account for more than half of Howard Payne's offensive output.

Howard Payne battled on the glass and stayed composed late, but Austin College was able to convert just enough timely baskets and free throws to edge ahead by one in the closing moments. Despite the result, the Jackets' execution and scoring output reflected a strong overall performance in a tightly contested matchup.

Howard Payne will look to build on the positives from the performance as the team prepares for its next opportunity, carrying confidence from a one-point game that could have gone either way.