The Howard University team will be looking to stop the team's current losing skid when it takes on the Hawks of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore at the W.P. Hytche Athletic Center.  Tipoff is scheduled for 4 pm and you can follow all the action by logging onto www.hubison.com.  Chuck Walton will handle the color and play by play.  It will be homecoming for UMES.
               
The two teams met back on January 18 at Burr and Howard (6-19, 4-6 in the MEAC) had its most productive game of the season, taking a big early lead and cruising to an 88-55 victory.  But things have changed since then.  Both teams come into the game on a losing slide but the Hawks have played much better and have come up just short against some the top teams (Hampton, Morgan State, NC Central and Norfolk State) during the recent weeks.
               
"This is not the same team," declared Howard Coach Kevin Nickelberry.  "They have played much better since we saw them in January, especially against some of the best teams in the league. They are at home and that changes the whole equation."
               
In the victory over UMES, the Bison got a career-high 33 points from James "J-Bird" Daniel and 19 from Prince Okoroh.  While Daniel continues to lead the team and the MEAC in scoring with 20 points per game, Okoroh has struggled of late and has only six points in the last two games, losses at Hampton and Norfolk State.
               
"We need to have Prince to play well," said Nickelberry of his junior forward who is second on the team in scoring and leads the team in rebounding.  "We also need Tyler Stone, Marcel Boyd to someone else to come up big."
               
The Hawks (3-18, 1-8 in the MEAC) rely on junior guard Kyree Jones and freshman guard Hakeem Baxter for their scoring.  Jones is averaging almost 16 points per game, shoots 88 percent from the free throw line and is second in the conference to Daniel in made three point baskets.
               
Baxter is having a fine year, averaging over 14 points per contest.
               
The game has strong implications for post season for the Bison.  With six games remaining in the regular season, Howard is 4-6 and in the middle of the pack.  A win against the Hawks could help build momentum that could get the Bison a possible seventh seed.
               
"It is a clean slate for us," said Nickelberry.  "We have to go out and play with confidence and everything else will take care of itself."