Men's Basketball | 12/17/2014 4:47:00 PM

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Malibu, Calif --- The Howard University men's basketball team faces a tall challenge when it takes on the Waves of Pepperdine in the Gotham Classic at the Firestone Center. Tip off is schedule for 10 p.m. Eastern time and it is being live streamed on www.pepperdinesports.com

In Pepperdine (6-2) from the WCC, Howard (6-6) faces a team with nice offensive balance.  Three of the starters average in double figures and the other two over nine points per game.  The Waves defeated South Alabama, Howard's next opponent, 78-68 on Monday.  Pepperdine's two setbacks have come on the road against Arizona State and Iowa.

The Bison's task could be all the more difficult as they will have to play without the services of one of the Big Three, James "JT" Miller, who will not play due to the flu.  A 6-4 sophomore guard from Clinton, NC, Miller is second on the team in scoring at almost 14 points per game.  He leads the starters in field goal percentage (46 percent)

"Obviously, it's a big blow," said Howard Coach Kevin Nickelberry.  "We have not played yet without him, so we will have to see how it shakes out.  We will just have to have other people step up."

Nickelberry has selected Jared Norsworthy to start in Miller's place.  A 6-2 senior guard from Pasadena, Calif, Norsworthy has been the Bison's most consistent reserve.

This will be his first start.  He is currently averaging 5.3 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.

Nickelberry notes that Pepperdine is the second best team Howard has played this year behind nationally ranked University of Miami.

"They have great balance with almost all of their starters averaging in double figures," he noted.  "We have to do a good job of slowing them down and not letting them get out in transition.  They have gotten out to leads in all of their wins and then they spread you late.  It is important that we get off to a fast start."  The margin of victory has been double digits in all of Pepperdine's wins.

The Bison defense has been sterling of late, holding their last four opponents to an average of 52 points per game.  They have done it with pressure defense that has recorded 8 steals per game, rebounding (plus 6) and great defense on the last line of defense (3.3 blocks per game).  The trio of Carlton, Marcel Boyd and Oliver Miller have combined to make the defense effective.

Offensively, James "J-Byrd" Daniel, III and James "JC" Carlton will have to add to their scoring totals in an effort to make up for the loss of Miller.  Daniel, a 5-10 sophomore guard from Hampton, VA, leads the team in scoring with almost 16 points per game while Carlton, a 6-8 senior transfer forward from Winterville, NC, has come on strong of late and is the team's third leading scorer with almost 12 per game.

The offense will be tested, especially Daniel, who likes to take the three-point shot and Carlton, who also has range from beyond the arc.  Pepperdine is ranked Number 1 in the nation in three-point shooting defense, holding their opponents to 20 percent.

"They do a great job in taking that way," said Nickelberry.  "We just have to make the extra pass and be more patient in our approach."