PINEVILLE, La. – The Howard Payne Yellow Jackets fell to 0-6 on the season and 0-2 in American Southwest Conference action with a 72-51 loss at Louisiana College Thursday night.

The Yellow Jackets trailed Louisiana College – which was playing its first game of the season – by a 37-26 count at halftime, and were outscored 35-25 in the second half.

HPU shot 37 percent (18 of 49) from the floor, 22 percent (4 of 18) from three-point land and 73 percent (11 of 15) at the free throw line. The Yellow Jackets also committed 27 turnovers and were outbounded 39-28.

Evan Adkins tallied a team-high 12 points for Howard Payne trailed by 11 from Tyrell Thompson, eight from Jaylan Ballou, seven from James Helzer, five each from Luke Cox and Michael House, two from Darius Johnson and one point from Reese Ridder.

Louisiana College converted 44 percent (28 of 64) of its shots, 17 percent (3 of 18) of its treys and 68 percent (13 of 19) of its free throws.

Kae’ron Baker and Galen Smith led Louisiana College with 16 points each followed by Bailey Hardy with 13.

The Yellow Jackets are back in action at 3 p.m. Saturday at Belhaven (2-1, 1-0), which defeated Sul Ross, 79-77, Thursday after rallying from a 10-point halftime deficit.