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LeTourneau University Athletics

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LeTourneau University, opens in new tab
Josh Thornton
Elyse Wright
76
Winner HPU HPU 7-6, 7-1 ASC
64
LeTourneau LETU 4-10, 2-7 ASC
Winner
HPU HPU
7-6, 7-1 ASC
76
Final
64
LeTourneau LETU
4-10, 2-7 ASC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
HPU HPU 29 47 76
LeTourneau LETU 34 30 64

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Howard Payne Rallies to Defeat LeTourneau University Men's Basketball

A 15-3 run to start the second half propelled visiting Howard Payne University with a 76-64 win over host LeTourneau University in men's basketball action on Thursday night in Solheim Arena.

LeTourneau (4-10, 2-7 ASC) closed out the first half on the strength of five-straight points by senior Josh Thornton. The reserve from DeSoto, Texas finished the contest with a season-high 18 to lead LETU. He was joined in double digits by junior Giovanny Thompson, who added 15. It is the fourth time that Thompson has been in double figures.

Howard Payne (7-6, 7-1) was led by the 17-point effort from Brandon Gould. He was joined in double digits by Ty Davis (15 points) and a double double (13 points, 12 rebounds) from Curtis Gile. The win, coupled with a loss by Hardin-Simmons to Concordia earlier in the night moves HPU into a tie for first with the Cowboys.

Thompson scored seven of his 11 in the first 4:43 to put LETU ahead 11-4 with 15:07 to play. Two more times, LeTourneau had seven-point leads on the visitors from Brownwood. HPU rallied to tie the game for the first time in the opening half when Khyce Randall made all 3 of his free throw attempts to even the contest at 29.

With the game tied for the first time, Thornton sent his teammates into the break with his five-point flurry in the final 1:38 for the 34-29 halftime lead. It was the first time in six contests that LeTourneau had led at the break. Holding a 34-29 lead at the break, LETU had outscored HPU, 22-10 on points in the paint and 8-1 in second-chance points.

Howard Payne scored eight of the first 11 to tie the game for only the second time, knotting the game at 37. Seven-straight points by Gould put HPU ahead for the rest of the contest. Down the stretch, LeTourneau rallied to cut the deficit to as little as eight in the loss. After a 12-point advantage by LETU in the first half on points in the paint, HPU outscored LeTourneau, 26-6 in the final 20 minutes.

Next, LeTourneau, who is in the midst of three games in five days, will next host Sul Ross State on Saturday at 3 p.m. in Solheim Arena.
 
 
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