LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY  –  Sophomore All Ohio Athletic Conference forward Kyle Payne (Brunswick) scored game-high tying 16 points and grabbed team-high tying seven rebounds as the Baldwin-Wallace College men's basketball team beat Hendrix (Ark.) College, 79-63, tonight (Wednesday, December 21, 2011) in the consolation game of the Transylvania University Don Lane Tournament. The victory was B-W's seventh in its last nine games and helped the Yellow Jackets improve to 7-3 overall.

In addition to Payne for B-W, sophomore guard Kevin Krakowiak (Valley City/Holy Name) scored 14 points and junior guard Ben Umbel (Poland/Seminary) and junior forward Chris Ameen (Broadview Heights/Walsh Jesuit) each chipped in 11 points and grabbed a team-high tying seven rebounds.  Umbel, who was selected to the All-Tournament Team, also passed for a game-high six assists.  B-W opened the tournament with a 63-61 loss to No. 14-ranked Wabash (Ind.) College last night.

Hendrix (2-7 overall)  had four players in double figures and was led by junior guard Jaren Riley who scored a game-high tying 16 points. Senior guard Ammon Martin scored 11 points, senior center Nick Heathscott contributed 12 points and sophomore forward Colton Primm had a double-double with 13 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.   

The Yellow Jackets opened scoring as Payne connected on one of two free throws to make the score, 1-0, at the 18:49 mark.  Payne followed with a traditional three point play to extend their lead to 4-0, at the 18:36 mark.  

Hendrix responded with an 6-0 run to take its first lead, 8-6, on a jumper sophomore forward Primm Colton with 15:07 left in the opening period.  The Warriors pushed its lead up to six points, 16-10, on a jumper by senior guard Ammon Martin at 11:14.  

B-W would go on a 7-0 run to regain the lead, 17-16, when sophomore guard Grant Fairhurst (Ashland) was fouled on a three point attempt and then converted all three from the charity stripe at the 8:28 mark.

After Hendrix regained the lead, 24-22, the Yellow Jackets would hold the Warriors scoreless over the final 3:49 as Fairhurst, Krakowiak and junior forward Chris Ameen (Broadview Heights/Walsh Jesuit) all scored baskets to help B-W take a 29-24 lead into halftime.

The Yellow Jackets opened the second half by outscoring Hendrix 23-9 over the first eight minutes, 52-33, and was keyed by Umbel with 11 points and assisted on two other baskets.

B-W would push its lead to as many as 19 points when junior forward Sean Rothermel (Delaware/Hayes) would split a pair of free throwns at the 2:33 mark.  Hendrix would only come as close as four points, 31-27, on a three pointer by Riley at 18:55.  

B-W is back in action on Friday, Dec. 30 when it hosts Alma College of Michigan in the Rudolph Ursprung Gymnasium in the Lou Higgins Center in Berea at 7:00 p.m. The Yellow Jackets return to Ohio Athletic Conference play on Wednesday, January 4 when they travel to University Heights for a showdown against Cleveland cross-town rival John Carroll University at 7:00 p.m.

Media and fans are reminded that the B-W will televise two men's and women's basketball doubleheaders on regional cable network SportsTime Ohio. The games are the January 28 doubleheader versus Wilmington and the February 18 twinbill versus Ohio Northern University. B-W has broadcast more of its athletics events on regional cable TV than any other Division III school

FOR MORE B-W Sports Information, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 and e-mail at kruple@bw.edu or Assistant SID Jeff Miller by phone at 440-826-2780 and email at jefmille@bw.edu. Fans can access the latest B-W athletics information at www.bw.edu/athletics and we invite you to join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bwyellowjackets and Twitter at http://twitter.com/bwathletics.