[Stories, photos courtesy of HPUSports.com]

 Luke Whidbee hit the game-winning basket with 1.1 seconds remaining to give the Yellow Jackets an 87-85 win over Sul Ross State on senior day at the Brownwood Coliseum.
 
Senior Myles Brown came out firing as he hit back-to-back buckets to give HPU a quick 5-0 lead. The Yellow Jackets were able maintain the lead until the 3:06 mark where Sul Ross State would convert on a basket with the foul to head into the break up 41-40.
 
The Lobos opened up on a 10-0 run to take a 57-47 lead early in the 2nd half. HPU cut the defecit down to three multiple times, but could not find the lead. Down by nine with 3:37 remaining in the contest, the Yellow Jackets went on a 10-1 run to tie the game 83-all with 1:18 left in the 2nd half. The Lobos took the lead on a layup with 46 seconds remaining, but Hudson Johnson was able to tie it up on a jump shot from the left wing. Armonie Ramey drew an offensive foul with 16 seconds left, setting up the final possession for HPU. Hudson Johnson took his man on an isolation play and found a cutting Luke Whidbee for the game-winning layup to take down Sul Ross State 87-85.
 
The Yellow Jackets outrebounded the Lobos 46-35 led by eight rebounds from Chase Glasper. HPU converted 16 offensive rebounds into 19 second chance points. Howard Payne was sparked by 43 bench points compared to 27 from Sul Ross State.
 
HPU shot 44.4% (32-72) from the field while nailing ten three-pointers. Sul Ross finished 44.6% (29-65) to go along with eight three-pointers.
 
Armonie Ramey led the way for the Jacket scoring 14 points to go along with seven rebounds. Luke Whidbee came up huge scoring 13 2nd half points including three trey balls. Hudson Johnson added 12 points and a team-high five assists. Rounding out the four double-digit scorers was Chase Glasper who scored 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
 
Sul Ross was led by Tyler Jackson who notched 32 points, four rebounds, and three steals.
 
The Yellow Jackets were able to earn their 11th victory in their final game of the 2023-24 season defeating Sul Ross State 87-85 on Saturday at the Brownwood Coliseum. 11 wins matches the highest win total from HPU men’s basketball since the 2017-18 season.

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Lady Jackets 78, Sul Ross 76

The Howard Payne University women’s basketball team took down Sul Ross State 78-76 at the Brownwood Coliseum in their final game of the season on senior day.
 
The Lady Jackets came out sharp as they built an early 13-7 lead over the Lobos. Sul Ross mounted a 16-4 run to close out the 1st quarter earning a lead of 23-17. Aja Holmes opened up the 2nd quarter with a quick three-pointer, but the Lobos answered with an 8-0 run to extend their lead to 11 points. Sul Ross would keep the pressure on HPU as they went into the break leading 39-32.
 
Howard Payne opened up the 2nd half on a 12-3 run to gain a 44-42 lead sparked by Asia Mitchell’s six free throws. The Lady Jackets could not hold onto it long as the Lobos went into the 4th leading 58-53. HPU found their first lead of the 4th quarter when Taysie Trejo hit a crucial three-pointer to put the Lady Jackets up 70-67 with 2:42 remaining in the contest. Sul Ross tied the game 76-76 on a pair of made free throws with just 28 seconds left. Trynadee Greenwell saved the day on an offensive rebound that led to the fifth foul for the Lobos leading scorer. Greenwell would be sent to the line for two shots at the charity strike, knocking down one of them to give HPU a 77-76 lead. The Lady Jackets forced a Lobo turnover to seal the game winning 78-76 after another free throw by Taysie Trejo.
 
The battle on the glass was split dead even with both teams each grabbing 37 rebounds. HPU found the edge on their bench, outscoring the Lobos 42-9.
 
The Lady Jackets shot 38.9% (21-54) from the field while hitting seven three-pointers at a 41.2% rate. The Lobos finished 45.2% (28-62) from the field struggling from deep.
 
Taysie Trejo recorded a career-high 23 points on 50% shooting while knocking down three treys to help lift the Lady Jackets over Sul Ross. Trynadee Greenwell and Asia Mitchell followed with 13 points apiece. Aja Holmes rounded out the four double-digit scorers for HPU scoring 11 points.

Sul Ross was led by a 32-point, 13-rebound performance from Marley Rokas. Emily Bunger followed behind with 15 points.
 
The Lady Jackets wrap up their 2023-24 season with their second consecutive win and their best win total since the 2020-21 season finishing 9-16. HPU defeated Sul Ross State 78-76 at the Brownwood Coliseum on senior day.