BROWNWOOD, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' men's basketball team opened the 2020-21 campaign with an 81-70 win over Howard Payne on Saturday afternoon at the Brownwood Coliseum.

The Cowboys jumped out to a 20-8 lead in the first 8:28 of the game. HSU hit five 3-pointers in that opening push with two by newcomer Kannon Jones, and one each from Aidan Walsh, Chase Cobb and Trey Wooldridge.

HSU pushed the lead to 34-20, before Howard Payne close the half on a 15-4 run to cut the halftime lead for the Cowboys to 38-35. The game was 41-39 with 18:02 to play, but HSU put it away with a 16-1 run. The Cowboys led by double digits the rest of the way.

Walsh led the Cowboys with 16 points, Jones had 14 in his HSU debut and Wooldridge chipped in 11 points. Four other players scored eight or nine points.

Tyrell Thompson led HPU with 22 points.

The Cowboys are 1-0 on the year and Howard Payne fell to 0-1. HSU is off until Nov. 17 when it travels to Wayland Baptist.  

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