BROWNWOOD, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men's basketball team dropped a 96-79 decision to Howard Payne University Thursday evening in Brownwood. The loss dropped the Cru to 4-5 overall and 2-2 in American Southwest Conference action while the Yellow Jackets improved to 7-5 on the season and 2-3 in league play.

Howard Payne opened the game with a five-point run until a three-pointer from Kyle Wright sparked an 11-point series for the Cru. Howard Payne quickly pulled back within one but UMHB held the high ground until the 13:53 mark when the Yellow Jackets retook the lead off a jumper from Hudson  Johnson. Howard Payne held the margin, going up by as many as six points before a seven-point run, anchored by five made free throws, put the Cru back on top.

The contest played basket-for-basket until the final 2:30 of the first half when Myles Brown hit a three-pointer to give HPU a four-point lead. The Yellow Jackets extended that lead to six points but a jumper from Maurice Pinnock and a pair of foul shots from Payton Brooks pulled the Cru within two. Howard Payne made two more shots from the foul line to go into halftime up 44-40.

The Yellow Jackets opened the second half with a pair of baskets to take a nine-point lead and held at least a six-point margin until Ryan Pondant cut the gap to four with a layup at the 16:49 mark. Howard Payne went back up by nine as UMHB continued to respond, keeping the game in single digits until 14:04 when an Armonie Ramey layup gave HPU an 11-point lead. UMHB kept fighting, cutting the gap to single digits five more times but a 6-0 run in the final five minutes gave the Yellow Jackets a 17-point lead the Cru couldn't overcome.

Josiah Johnson led the Cru with 21 points while Ryan Pondant added 14 and Eli Beard scored 12. Pondant was the Cru's leading rebounder, bringing down nine boards followed by Zach Engels with seven. Kyle Wright anchored UMHB's offense with six assists while four different Crusaders recorded steals.

UMHB shot 40.6 percent in the contest, scoring 22 second-chance points and 30 points in the paint. The Cru out-rebounded the Yellow Jackets 50-43 in the contest, allowing them just 12 second-chance points.

The Cru returns to action on Saturday, December 16^th in a 3 p.m. contest at Sul Ross State University in Alpine.