BROWNWOOD, Texas - Dominating on both ends of the floor, the East Texas Baptist University men's basketball team played one of their best games of the year defeating Howard Payne University, 87-51. ETBU improves to 9-5 overall and 3-2 in the American Southwest Conference.

Kevin Charles posted a season-high 20 points hitting 10-of-12 from the field. Chris Haynes added 11 points while Logan Blow and Jayden Williams scored 10 points each. Aaron Gregg recorded six assists for the night. Tyrell Thompson was HPU's top scorer with 15 points.

The Tigers got off to a tremendous start scoring 12 of the first 15 points of the game (20:00-14:54). Six straight HPU points brought them to within three points. From that point on in the first half, ETBU went on a 31-10 run to end the half. This included a 16-2 run (9:27-2:55) that saw Charles score eight of his 14 first-half points in that stretch. Other contributors for the Tigers were Blow (eight points) and Cody Hunter, who recorded five points. ETBU's defense held HPU to 26.9% from the field in the first half. It was 43-19 in ETBU's favor going into the locker room.

By the start of the second half, the Yellow Jackets cut the deficit to as close 22 points (45-23; 17:53). For the rest of the game, ETBU took control knocking down 61.3% from the field. Charles would score just six points in the second half to finish with his 20 points. Christian Adams came in and scored six points, including a pair of dunks while Tevin Baker, Skyler Stutts and Trevor Deel each recorded a basket. The Tigers finished with an 87-51 victory.

ETBU will return home on Thursday for a 7:30 PM contest against Louisiana College.