Box Score

ALPINE, Texas- A clutch three-pointer by senior Xavier Webb (Riverton, WY/RHS) sparked a late-game rally as Sul Ross (13-12, 9-7 ASC) defeated Howard Payne University (12-12, 8-8 ASC), 63-59 in a must-win conference tilt Saturday at the Gallego Center.

The Lobos will advance to next week's ASC Men's Championship Tournament as the fourth seed in the Conference West. Sul Ross will battle ASC East Division Champ and tournament host LeTourneau University at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Solheim Arena in Longview.

The Yellow Jackets held a tight lead for much of the opening half.

A three-point basket by A.J. James (Spring/SHS) finished a 5-0 run at the 10:52 mark and pulled the home team to within one.

Howard Payne then attacked with a 9-0 run and led 23-13 at 5:07.

Caleb Thomasson (Ackerly/Sands) connected on two free throws at 36 seconds for the final points of the period and pulled Sully back to within a one-point deficit.

The Jackets worked their way to an eight-point advantage at the 12:51 mark, second half.

Following a 10-point lead by the visitors at 10:16, Sul Ross fought its way to a 52-52 tie as Jacob Dawson (Amarillo/AHS) scored on a layup at 6:56.

Dawson converted another layup nearly a minute later and finished up with a free throw giving the Lobos their first lead of the contest at 5:59.

Two more ties would ensue before HPU's Khyce Randall connected on a pair of foul shots at 2:47 swinging the favor back to the Yellow Jackets.

A free throw by Thomasson at 1:41 pulled the Pack to within one before Webb banked on a triple with 30 seconds remaining and put Sul Ross up for good.

A free throw by C.J. Ross (Austin/Akins) and another by Dawson in the final moments sealed the 63-59 Lobo victory.

Thomasson was a rebound shy of a double double and sported a team-high 20 points on the day.

Dawson, Webb and Ross posted 15, 11 and 10 points respectively.

The Lobos finished at 24-of-56 shooting from the floor at 43 percent including 6-of-20 from three-point range.