BROWNWOOD, Texas - Five Tornados reached double figures in scoring as the Concordia Texas men's basketball team defeated Howard Payne University by a score of 80-70. Freshman big man Deon Williams was dominant in the paint with his first career double-double (12 points, 15 rebounds) inside the Brownwood Coliseum on Monday.

Neither team made a three-pointer in the first half (combined 0-14 3FG) with CTX jumping out to a 7-0 lead to start the game. The Yellowjackets caught the Tornados and took a 16-15 advantage midway through the first half. Both teams traded baskets with 10 leads changes in the first half, and Concordia used a 6-0 burst to take a 38-33 lead into the intermission.

Colby Kalbacher ended the cold streak from beyond the arc with a three-pointed off a feed from Myart at the 19:15 mark. Concordia's lead extended to double digits following back-to-back baskets from Antoine Henderson at the 13:07 mark. 

Carrying momentum, Concordia earned their largest lead of the game at 61-47 following an and-one layup by Dylen Scales with 11:15 remaining. HPU inched their way back into the game to make it 71-68 with 2:49 left. Scales would halt their comeback with another and-one conversion to spark a 9-2 flurry to end the game in a Tornados' victory.

Concordia will now return back to Austin for the final home stand of the season where they will host the University of the Ozarks this Thursday, Feb. 12th at 7:30 p.m.


BOX SCORE STANDOUTS
Donovan Stafford 15 Pts, 4 Reb, 4 Ast
Deon Williams 12 Pts, 15 Reb (Career-Highs)
Colby Kalbacher 11 Pts (Career-High), 4 Reb
Branden Myart 11 Pts, 2 Reb, 2 Ast
Jaylon Johnson 10 Pts, 4 Stls, 3 Ast
Antoine Henderson 10 Pts, 4 Reb


To keep up to date with everything surrounding the CTX men's basketball program, follow us on social media (@ctxathletics) and visit athletics.concordia.edu.