Box Score Washington, DC--For the second straight game, Howard suffered through some cold shooting, going through stretches without field goals and again it proved to be the difference as the Bison fell, 79-65 to North Carolina Central University in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men's game at Burr Gymnasium.
The Bison (5-17, 3-4 in the MEAC) trailed from the beginning to the Eagles (15-5, 6-1 in the MEAC), who bolted out to a 25-10 lead in the first 12 minutes. NCCU did it by forcing the young Bison into 8 of 23 shooting from the field and utilizing its veteran bench, which accounted for 23 of the team's 38 first half points.
"In this league, it has been shown that you win with upperclassmen," said Howard Coach
Kevin Nickelberry. "They play together and they know where each other is on the floor. Â Their experience really showed its face today and our inexperience showed its ugly face today."
Howard's leading scorer, freshman James "J-Bird" Daniel, who averages 21 points per game went one for eight from the floor, tallying six points to match teammate and team second leading scorer
Prince Okoroh.
"They did the same thing Bethune Cookman did, pushing J-Bird off the line and crowding Prince to try to make our other players beat them," explained Nickelberry.
With Ingram and starting point guard Emmanuel Chapman on the bench with fouls, the Bison did make a mini run and reduced the margin to six at 27-21 with just under four minutes before the half. But the Eagles responded with an 11-3 spurt that gave the visitors a 38-24 advantage. Reserves Reggie Groves and Gordon Parks combined to pick up the slack, scoring 18 points between them on 6 of 8 shooting.
The Bison did improve their play in the second play as Daniel and Okoroh each tallied seven while
Keon Hill scored all 10 of his points in the second half and Solomon "Solo" Mangham and James "JT" Miller both chipped in with seven off the bench.
"We need those guys to do that when it matters," said Nickelberry. Â "They did a good job of cutting down that huge lead (28 points at the 9:32 mark) for us. Â Hopefully on Monday, they can do that in the first half, on that first opportunity when it matters. Â Because right now, we are struggling when we have a chance to make that play when the pressure is on and the game is close."
Ingram led all scorers with 16, Groves with 15, Parks with 14 and Alfonzo Houston with 11.
Daniel and Okoroh led the Bison with 13 and Hill added 10 and four assists in 13 minutes.
