ABILENE, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' Cowboy basketball team opened the American Southwest Conference season 1-0 against Howard Payne, winning 101-86 behind a career-high 24 points from Tyler Williams at the Mabee Complex on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Cowboys led 54-40 at the half over the Yellow Jackets at halftime. The Cowboys shot 55 percent in the game, including a mark of 65 percent in the first half on 19-of-29 shooting.
 
Tyler Williams scored a career-high 24 points in the game in 28 minutes of play, having to leave the game early with his fifth foul. Williams shot 6-of-9 from the floor with a 3-pointer and made 11-of-13 free throws and added five assists.
 
Three other Cowboys were in double-figures, including Asher Fleming and Matthew Alexander with a double-double each. Fleming scored 19 with 11 rebounds and Alexander had 15 points with 11 rebounds. Myles Amason scored 17 point shooting 6-of-9 for Hardin-Simmons.
 
It was a gritty game for both squads, with coaches having to manage the foul trouble for the main scorers. HSU had Williams foul out late in the game, and Fleming and Chris Bryant had four fouls each. For Howard Payne, Armonie Ramey led with 20 points but had to play with four fouls including three in the first half, along with Ben Phillip who had four fouls, and many others with three. The combined 40 minutes of play created 41 personal fouls.
 
The Cowboy defense held off a few runs from Howard Payne late, and Hardin-Simmons took the opening ASC game 101-86. The Cowboys are now 12-8 and 1-0 in ASC play and will travel to Belton, Texas to take on Mary Hardin-Baylor on Jan. 24 at 3 p.m. for another American Southwest Conference game.
 
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