MSU Moorhead Athletics

Before MSUM: Spent the past two seasons as a member of NCAA Division I Western Illinois' roster, playing in a total of 31 games with three starts...played in 28 games as a redshirt freshman for the Leathernecks, tallying 71 total points in 381 minutes...shot 53.1 percent from the floor in 2024-25, scoring a season-high six points against Little Rock on February 22...prior to Western Illinois, played two seasons at NCAA Division III Wisconsin-River Falls, playing in 50 career games and averaging 15.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game...was named the WIAC Newcomer of the Year as a true freshman after averaging 14.1 points and seven rebounds a game...was also D3hoops.com Region 9 Rookie of the Year and All-WIAC Honorable Mention his freshman season...averaged 16.8 points and 6.3 rebounds as a sophomore collecting All-WIAC First Team honors...scored a career-high 30 points against Wisconsin-La Crosse on January 18. 2023. 

Prep: Played basketball for East Ridge High School in Woodbury, Minn., under head coach Josh Peltier.

Personal: Son of Emma and George Payne. Majoring in biology.