The Howard Payne University men’s basketball team upset the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor Thursday night at the Coliseum 68-65.
Coming off a timeout with 19 seconds left in the game, Brandon Irwin made the winning layup with nine seconds remaining. Irwin had a game high 31 points on 9-17 shooting, and 4-6 from behind the arc.
UMHB had a chance to win it themselves but Marlon Miller missed a point-blank layup that rimmed out and fell into the arms of HPU’s Donavon Gardener with 0.14 seconds remaining. Gardener would knock down both free throws to ice the upset.
Throughout the game there were seven lead changes and was tied five times. The Jackets trailed by 11 points in the first half, and rallied back to tie the game at the half, 36-36.
HPU was led by Brandon Irwin with a game high 31 points. Joshua Dada added 10 points. Donovan Gardner grabbed nine rebounds and Kanyon Payne recorded six blocks.
Robert Moore led UMHB with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Sterling Phillips and Greg Wiernas had 11 points each.
Howard Payne improves to 5-13 overall and 4-10 in ASC action. UMHB falls to 14-4 overall and 10-4 in conference.
The next game for the Jackets is at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29 at the Brownwood Coliseum against Concordia University.
