ABILENE – The Howard Payne University men’s basketball team’s last-minute 11-0 run was not enough as the Yellow Jackets fell 103-101 to McMurry University Thursday evening at Kimbrell Arena.

With the loss, the Yellow Jackets (7-17, 6-13) remained in a tie for eighth place and the final berth in the American Southwest Conference championship tournament with Sul Ross (9-15, 6-13), which fell to Hardin-Simmons Thursday. HPU visits Hardin-Simmons (15-7, 11-6), which it upset earlier this season, at 3 p.m. Saturday while Sul Ross ventures McMurry (9-13, 7-10).

The Yellow Jackets split their two games with Sul Ross earlier this season. Concordia (8-14, 5-13) and Ozarks (6-17, 5-13) are both a game behind HPU and Sul Ross, having had one game each canceled this season.

With the score at 100-88 McMurry with 1:39 to play, the Yellow Jackets put together 11-0 run to pull within one, 100-99 with 20 seconds remaining. Then HPU was whistled for an intentional foul and McMurry made 3 of 4 free-throws down the stretch in the 103-101 final.
 
A big factor in the outcome of the game was at the free-throw line with McMurry making 30 of 39 (76.9%) and HPU hitting 19 of 31 (61.3%)

HPU was led by Myles Brown with a season high 28 points on 7 of 11 three-point shooting. Jerren Godfrey and Jaylan Ballou each had 18 points. Ballou also had six rebounds, four steals and nine assists. Frederick Watts had 13 points and 14 rebounds for his 10th double-double of the season. Tyrell Thompson finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

McMurry was led by CJ LeBlanc and Matt Pena with 20 points each.