Washington, DC---James "JT" Miller scored seven of his career-high 33 points in the second overtime and James "JC" Carlton and Jared Norsworthy each contributed four in the extra period as Howard University pulled away to a 96-83 victory over pesky Gwynedd Mercy University in a non-conference game at Burr Gymnasium.
 
The Bison (4-3) trailed at the end of the first regulation before Miller converted two free throws to send the game into another extra period.
 
Norsworthy converted on a three-point play, then Miller hit on a long three pointer to give Howard an 84-78 lead.  From there, the Bison turned to Carlton and Miller and Gwynedd had no answer for the duo.
                 
The Griffins (4-2) had little reserve left as five players fouled out, including Arron Goodman, who scored a team-high 24 points in 28 minutes before his disqualification.
                 
Howard played without its leading scorer (16.0 points per game), James "J-Byrd" Daniel, who sat out with a thigh injury.  It showed early as the Bison had to scrap and battle the Griffins.  Howard led, 31-30 at the half, courtesy of a Miller floater at the buzzer to end the half.
                 
At the beginning of the second half, it appeared as though the Bison had control after they forced Gwynedd into turnovers that resulted into an eight-point lead.  But the Griffins refused to quit as Goodman and Darnell Artis combined to help keep their team in the game.  Goodman could have won the game in regulation, but made only two of three free throws with 0.8 seconds remaining, sending the game into an extra frame.
                 
"Injuries are part of the game of basketball," said Howard head coach Kevin Nickelberry on not having Daniel in the lineup. "It is nothing new for us.  We have seen this the past two years.  We have to have other people step up when that happens."
                 
The first overtime turned into a duel between Goodman and Miller.  Goodman scored six of his team's nine points in the overtime and Miller tallied seven.  Goodman would go on foul out and it hurt the Griffins chances for the upset.
                 
"It's a long season and we do not have time to dwell on our last," said Nickelberry, apparently not happy with the team's performance.  "We have to get back to playing defense at a high level and playing better at a situational level.  I am confident that we will."
                 
Miller, who has begun to play well in his sophomore season, connected on 11 of 15 from the field, including a perfect two-for-two on three-point field goals.  He also recorded a career-best six steals during 47 minutes of play.
                 
Carlton recorded his first double-double as a Bison with 26 points and 13 rebounds.  Norsworthy added eight points and five rebounds and Keon Hill, who started for Daniel, added 10 points.
                 
Gwynedd got a team-high 24 points from Goodman, 18 from Artis and 12 from Brian Hennessey.
 
NEXT UP: The Bison travel to Pittsburgh, Pa to take on Duquesne on Tuesday at 7 pm.