Washington, DC--The Howard University men's basketball team will have perhaps its biggest challenge of the season when it takes on the Eagles of North Carolina Central in a big Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference contest at Burr Gymnasium today at 4 pm.

The Bison (5-16, 3-3 in the MEAC) are coming off a 57-46 loss to Bethune Cookman this past Monday that snapped a two-game win streak.  In that game, Howard suffered through one of its poorest shooting performances of the season, going almost 13 minutes without a field goal to start the second half and missing 17 of 21 shots in the process after leading 28-22 at the half.

The Bison's shooting woes can be attributed to the performances of its two top scorers, James "J-Bird" Daniel and Prince Okoroh.  Daniel, a 5-11 freshman guard, came into the game leading the MEAC in scoring at over 21 points per game.  But Daniel failed to score a field goal for the first time this season, missing all 10 of his shots from the field and finishing with 14 points.

Okoroh, a 6-5 junior guard and the team's second leading scorer at 16 points per game, did finish with 14 points, but he missed 11 of 16 from the field.

Our game plan was to make sure that we contained their two top scorers and make someone else beat us," said Bethune Cookman head coach Gravelle Craig after the game.

The Bison will have to rebound and then some against a formidable opponent in the Eagles.  NCCU (14-5, 5-1 in the MEAC) has won six straight, the latest a 54-53 win over Morgan State at home on Monday.  The Eagles lead the conference in several statistical categories including scoring, defense, assists and steals.  Senior guard Jeremy Ingram is second to Daniel in scoring in the MEAC and Emmanuel Chapman, also a senior, leads the conference and ranks nationally in assists with over seven a game.

North Carolina Central is a very good basketball team, maybe the best in the conference," said Howard head coach Kevin Nickelberry.  "They are a veteran team with seniors and they have some quality wins this season.  It is going to be a huge task for this young team.  But I am confident we will bounce back.  We are at home, it is going to be a great atmosphere and the team is excited about the challenge."

There will be a special presentation from the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge in the pre game and the game will be webcast live on www.hubison.com.                Chuck Walton will call all the action.

GAME NOTES: The game features the two top scorers in the MEAC, Daniel and Ingram, who are strong candidates for Player of the Year consideration.  NCCU leads the MEAC in three-point shooting defense while the Bison rank second in three-point field goal shooting at 34 percent.  Daniel leads the MEAC in made three-point field goals per game and in three-point shooting percentage (42 percent).