Fornerette Shines as Texas Lutheran Defeats Howard Payne, 77-71

SEGUIN, Texas -- Sophomore guard Riley Fornerette (Surprise, Ariz./Dysart) posted a career-high 22 points, his second 20+ point game this season, to pace Texas Lutheran (8-5, 3-1 SCAC) to a 77-71 non-conference home victory against Howard Payne (2-10, 0-5 ASC) in the Bulldogs final game of the 2022 calendar year.

Fornerette also set new career-highs in steals (4) and free throws made (10-11) as the guard found a way to get to the line throughout Saturday afternoon's contest. Senior Mason Green (San Marcos/San Marcos) tallied 14 points, six rebounds and two blocks and junior Xavier Phillips (Austin/Dripping Springs) joined Fornerette and Green in double figures registering 12 points, four assists, and four rebounds in 33 minutes. Sophomore Easton Allen (New Braunfels/Marion) recorded a team-high seven rebounds in addition to nine points. Keiman Capers (Houston/North Shore) matched his career-high with six points, Cesar Reyes (Sabinal/Sabinal) scored a career-high five points, and Isaac Orozco (Helotes/O'Connor) matched his career-high of five steals in addition to three points, five assists, and four rebounds.

The first half featured two ties and seven lead changes with Texas Lutheran controlling for most of the opening period. Riley Fornerette would lead the Bulldogs with 16 points in the first half. The free throw line would play a crucial role in the Bulldogs lead in the first half as the Bulldogs shot 86.7% from the line (13-15) compared to the Yellowjackets five total free throw attempts - all of which they would convert. Texas Lutheran would lead 45-38 at the break.

Texas Lutheran came out sluggish in the second half, starting the half shooting 0-10, as the Yellowjackets would start the half on a 23-4 run with all four points coming from the free throw line. Texas Lutheran's first field goal of the half would not come until Cesar Reyes would bank in a three-pointer with 10:53 remaining to cut the Yellowjackets lead to 58-52. Reyes's three would be the first of a trio of threes as Mason Green and Easton Allen would connect from beyond the arc to tie the game 58-all. The two teams would go back-and-forth until the Bulldogs were able to make it a multiple possession game over the course of the final three minutes of the game.

Texas Lutheran returns to the court on Tuesday (Jan. 3) as they travel to Georgetown as they return to SCAC play with a matchup against Southwestern. Tip-off is set for 7:30 PM. All streaming and live stats links will be available on tlubulldogs.com.

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