BOX SCORE

BROWNWOOD, Texas -- A 26-point swing in the final 27 minutes of the contest helped the Concordia University Texas men's basketball team to a 102-88 win over Howard Payne University on Thursday night.  The Tornados (15-9, 13-7 ASC) notched their fifth straight win and eliminated the Yellow Jackets (6-18, 6-14 ASC) from postseason contention.

Concordia trailed 61-59 with 10:54 remaining, but a layup by junior forward #Justin Reefer# tied the game.  The Tornados took the lead on a pair of free throws by senior forward #Brad Walker# (63-61).  Howard Payne's Brandon Irwin answered with two free throws to again tie the game (63-63) with 10:06 left.  However, CTX would go on an 8-1 run that opened up the game.

The Tornados would extend their lead to as much as 17 points (98-81) late in the game.  Walker finished the game with a team-high 21 points and scored 15 of Concordia's final 31 points.  Walker became the fifth player in program history to net over 1,500 career points.

Freshman point guard #Tayler Jacobs# scored 19, handed out eight assists and collected six rebounds.  Freshman shooting guard #Nick Haynes# netted 17 and Reefer poured in 16 to help lead the offensive charge.

Both teams exhibited hot-shooting strokes from the field.  Concordia edged Howard Payne, shooting 52-percent from the floor while the Yellow Jackets hit 50-percent of their shots.  The Tornados were 9-of-18 from beyond the arc, five of which came of the left hand of Haynes.  Jacobs buried three three-pointers, while junior guard #Kenny Williams# hit the only other trey for Concordia.

Howard Payne's Brandon Irwin led all scorers with 32 points.

Concordia has won nine of its last 11 and will try to finish the regular season by winning six straight on Saturday.  The Tornados travel to Alpine for a 3 p.m. start.