LONGVIEW - The LeTourneau YellowJackets returned from Christmas Break on Friday evening as they welcomed in the Howard Payne Yellow Jackets in non-conference action. A huge second half from Howard Payne erased a LeTourneau first half lead and gave the Yellow Jackets a 91-79 win.

It was a back and forth, highly contested first half as neither team held a lead over four points. Each team shot over 45% with senior Deitrich Williams pacing the Jackets to 13 points in the half to give them a 38-36 lead at the break.

However, as LeTourneau (4-7) cooled down in the second half, Howard Payne (2-7) continued to heat up, shooting 52% in the second half to outscore the Jackets by 14 and take the win.

Williams led the way with 17 points and four steals while junior Chad Williams added 14 points and senior Kendrae Carter, junior Justin Jones, and Ladaria Brown had nine points each. Brown added six assists and Carter pulled down 11 boards.

LeTourneau is back in action on Monday as they travel to Natchitoches, La. to take on Division I opponent Northwestern State. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.