LETU men's basketball lost a heartbreaker in the first conference action of the season as they dropped a 93-88 decision in overtime to Howard Payne on Thursday night in Brownwood. The "Battle of the YellowJackets" did not disappoint the 400 in attendance as the two teams traded blows and needed an extra five minutes to declare a winner.
 
Sophomore Bryson Erby led the YellowJackets (3-2, 0-1 ASC) with 16 points including 3 of 5 from three-point range. Senior Jeff Martin played a steady game for LETU as the veteran point guard recorded six assists and zero turnovers to go along with his 15 points and seven rebounds.
 
The Caleb and Caylab duo also played well as sophomore Caleb Loggins scored 13 points (5-7) and pulled down seven rebounds before fouling out with three minutes remaining in the overtime period. Caylab Herrera was the fourth YellowJacket in double figures as he scored 12 points including a perfect 2 for 2 from behind the arc. Christain Seidl and Nate West each finished with nine for LeTourneau.
 
Ricky Guillory led HPU with 24 points including five three-point field goals and some big shots down the stretch for the Jackets.
 
"Howard Payne hit some very tough shots down the stretch and I give them credit for that as they were long and contested three's. We had several chances to close them out in regulation but didn't get it done," said head coach Dan Miller after the game. "I sure believe in these guys and know we will stay together and be ready to get right back out and battle on the road again Saturday."
 
HPU jumped out to an early seven-point lead with hot shooting from Shadd Cole. LeTourneau would respond with a run of their own and tie the game at 18-18 on a fast break layup by Bryson Erby.
 
The YellowJackets then went on a 7-0 run punctuated by a Christian Seidl three-point field goal to take a 28-20 lead with 7:27 remaining in the opening half. It was back and forth for the remainder of the half and LETU went into the break with a seven-point advantage (45-38).
 
LeTourneau led by as many as 10 in the second half but HPU would chip away in the final four minutes of the game to tie it up at 81-81.
 
Jeff Martin created space for a midrange jumper at the buzzer but it wouldn't fall, sending the game into overtime for the first time this season. The YellowJackets played in four overtime games last season going 1-3 in those games.
 
LeTourneau struggled from the field in the overtime period shooting just 3 of 11 from the floor and scoring seven points. Howard Payne would make tough shots in the final minutes to take the conference-opening victory 93-88.
 
The YellowJacket men will continue their West Texas road trip and take on the 2015-16 regular season ASC champions Sul Ross State on Saturday afternoon. The Lobos also dropped a close game on Thursday, falling 61-63 to UT Tyler. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. in Alpine.