Mobile, AL---It was perhaps the team's best all-around effort of the season.  James "J-Byrd" Daniel, III scored a game-high 22 points, James "JC" Carlton tallied all 17 of his points in the second half, Marcel Boyd grabbing a career-high 14 rebounds and Damon Collins with a solid all-around effort as Howard University pulled away to a 73-60 win over the University of South Alabama in the final round of the Gotham Classic at the.  The Bison (7-7) finished 2-2 while the Jaguars (2-8) went winless.
                 
It was Daniel who took up the slack for Carlton.  The 5-11, 175-pound sophomore from Hampton, VA, scored 13 of his team's points before having to sit out the final minutes with two fouls along with Carlton.  That is where the play of Boyd on the boards and the all-around play of Collins became a factor.
                 
Howard led 36-33 at intermission, compliments of reserve Solomon Mangham who nailed a three pointer that gave the Bison momentum coming out of the locker room.
                 
"Our bench was huge tonight," said Nickelberry.  "When Daniel and Carlton had to sit for a long stretch in the first half, (Keon) Hill and the reserves held down the fort and kept us in the game until Daniel and Carlton were able to come out huge in the second half."
 
Carlton wasted little time.  The 6-8 senior forward from Winterville, NC led an 11-4 run over the fits six minutes that opened at 47-37 lead. With Carlton becoming a presence, Daniel began to pick his spots and Collins and Boyd continued their play.  Collins dished out a career-high seven assists, scored nine points and grabbed six rebounds.
                 
Boyd, a 6-11 red-shirt sophomore center from Accokeek, MD, grabbed any Howard or Jaguars misses.  Boyd finished with a career-best 8 offensive rebounds.
                 
"Boyd was huge on the glass tonight," he said.
                 
With the Bison defense limiting South Alabama to 30 percent shooting and dominating the glass (46-32 advantage), were never challenged again, maintaining a double-digit lead.
                 
"I told them before the game that we were ranked 19^th in the country in defense and that needed to be the story they talk about after the game," said Nickelberry.  "Our defense allowed us to get out in transition and get some easy baskets."
                 
Nickelberry also pointed to two areas of concern: turnovers and assists.  Howard came into the game averaging over 17 turnovers and just seven assists.   For the game, the Bison had 15 assists on 26 field goals and 13 turnovers.
                 
"We are learning to solve the turnover and assist issues that have been a problem," noted Nickelberry.  "It shows that we are growing as a team."
                 
Daniel led all scorers with 22, Carlton with 17 and 6 rebounds, Collins with 9 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds and Boyd with 7 points to go along with 14 rebounds.
 
NEXT UP:  Howard travels to the Bronx, NY to take on the Rams of Fordham on Sunday at 6 pm.
 
GAME NOTES:  The win gives Howard its second win this season over a Division 1 opponent on the road after going 65 games in a row without a victory.