• by Travis Hendryx •
ALPINE, Texas- The Sul Ross Lobo men’s basketball team completed its season sweep of Howard Payne University with a 75-64 ASC win over the visiting Yellow Jackets Saturday at the Gallego Center.
Sophomore guard Tristen Licon finished with a team-high 17 points. Conner Dawson added 14 points while B.J. Hollis and Jack Kirkpatrick led rebounders with seven boards each.
A layup by Licon put the first points on the board for the Lobos to tie the game at two. Licon then added a long range jumper to break the tie for a 3-2 Sul Ross lead with 18:11 remaining in the first half.
The two teams traded leads over the next three minutes before Hollis converted from short range for a one-point Lobo lead.
Hollis then knocked down a pair of free throws for a 12-11 advantage before Aaron Anderson banked on a scoop shot extending Sully’s lead to three with 13:54 left in the first half.
One more tie would ensue before the home squad mounted an 8-2 run capped by a three-pointer by Cole Avery for a 26-17 Sul Ross lead at the 8:46 mark.
Jack Kirkpatrick’s layup gave Sul Ross its first double digit lead of the game with 7:10 left before the half.
The Yellow Jackets threatened and pulled to within two off a long range basket by Evan Adkins at 3:53.
Sully held the visitors at bay and ended the period with a step back jumper by Avery at nine seconds as the Lobos clung to a 42-37 lead at the break.
Sul Ross maintained a slim lead for the first 10 minutes of the second half.
A three-pointer by Hollis spread the Lobo lead to seven at the 7:49 mark. Hollis then scored on a fast break dunk at 6:11 for a 66-57 lead.
Sully would sport a pair of ten-point leads off a free throw by Licon and a jump hook by Brayden Fry with just under two minutes left in the game.
Shadd Cole converted the final point for the Yellow Jackets off a foul shot at the 53 second mark. Kirkpatrick then put Howard Payne away with a layup at 17 seconds as Sul Ross prevailed in the 75-64 victory.
Hollis and Kirkpatrick finished with 11 points each while Fry posted 10 points.
Saturday’s win improves Sul Ross to 10-11 on the season and 5-7 in ASC competition. Howard Payne slumps to 3-18 and 1-11.
The Lobos will host Hardin-Simmons University in a critical ASC rematch Thursday, February 7. Tip off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. from the Gallego Center and will be streamed live on the Sul Ross Sports Network.