The Howard Payne Yellow Jackets used an 11-0 run in the first half to seize control, then scored 10 points in a row in the second half to reclaim the momentum en route to a 100-71 victory over Dallas Christian Friday night at the Brownwood Coliseum to kick off the inaugural Dallas Huston Classic.
Down 26-19 in the first half, the Yellow Jackets (7-2) went on an 11-0 run to grab a 30-26 lead and never trailed again, stretching the advantage to 52-38 by halftime. Then, after Dallas Christian closed the gap to 52-43, Howard Payne fired off a 10-0 run to push the lead to 62-43, and the margin continued to grow the rest of the contest.
The Yellow Jackets shot 43 percent (38 of 88) from the field, with 11 three-pointers, and sank 62 percent (13 of 21) of their free throws. HPU was outrebounded narrowly 47-46, but forced 33 turnovers while committing just 15.
American Southwest Conference Player of the Week Armonie Ramey scored 16 points to pace the Jackets trailed by 13 each from Avant Coleman and Jackson Tomlin, 10 apiece from Braylon Crosby and Jordan McClendon, eight from Will Jefferson, seven from Ben Phillip, five each from Jaime Puentes and Jayden Bush, four from Sean Calloway, three apiece from Nathan Scott and Carter Eddy, two points from Evan Duncan and one point from Connor Yocom.
Dallas Christian shot 39 percent (24 of 61) as Seth Mays scored 11 points followed by Terius Maxie with 10.
The second day of the Dallas Huston Classic features McMurry vs. Dallas Christian at 1 p.m. Saturday and Howard Payne against Arlington Baptist at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Brownwood Coliseum.
