Howard Payne men's basketball battled in a conference matchup at The Brownwood Coliseum, falling 83–68 to Hardin-Simmons on 'Cram the Coliseum night.'

Before tip-off, the evening began with a special moment as Senior Guard Armonie Ramey was honored for eclipsing 1,500 career points and breaking into the top ten all-time scorers in Howard Payne history. The recognition celebrated Ramey's consistency, leadership, and lasting impact on the Yellow Jackets program, drawing a strong response from the home crowd.

Once play got underway, Howard Payne competed with energy throughout the contest, answering runs and showing resilience on both ends of the floor. Ben Phillip paced the Jackets offensively with 14 points, providing a steady presence and attacking the basket. Trey Jackson added 12 points, contributing key buckets and helping keep the tempo moving. Jordan McClendon finished with nine points, while Carter May and Braylon Crosby each chipped in eight, giving Howard Payne balanced scoring options.

The Yellow Jackets showed fight across the lineup, with solid contributions from the bench and stretches of effective ball movement that created quality looks. Despite the opponent maintaining control for much of the game, Howard Payne continued to push and compete through all 40 minutes.

While the final score favored Hardin-Simmons, the night was highlighted by the celebration of Armonie Ramey's milestone achievement and the effort displayed by the Jackets in front of the rowdy home crowd. Howard Payne will look to build on the positives from this performance as conference play continues.