Washington, DC--James "JC" Carlton scored 13 of his 19 points in the second half, including two clutch free throws with 0.5 seconds remaining to give Howard a hard-fought 71-69 win over Coppin State in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game at Burr Gymnasium.
 

Despite the fact that the Bison twice held seven point leads in the second half, the game was a seesaw battle, featuring 11 ties and 8 lead changes.

"Coppin came in and played us tough at home," said Howard Head Coach Kevin Nickelberry, "That was definitely a game we didn't deserve to win, but we won it."

The Eagles (1-15, 0-3 MEAC) took a 69-67 lead on two free throws by Sterling Smith with 43 ticks on the clock.  Then James "J-Byrd" Daniel, III answered with two free throws to tie the game at 69 with 35 seconds on the clock.

On the ensuing possession, Gary Dallas, who came off the bench to score 12 of his team-high 17 points in the second stanza, was called for traveling, giving Howard the ball with 4 seconds remaining.  The Bison inbounded the ball and quickly called a timeout with 2.8 seconds. In trying to set up a play, the ball went out of bounds off Coppin State, giving Howard another chance with 0.9 seconds.

Carlton was fouled and following a Coppin State timeout to freeze him at the foul line, the 6-8 senior from Winterville, NC, calmly sank both free throws.  Coppin State failed to get a shot off and the Bison escaped with a win.

In the first half, it was Daniel who tallied 16 of his 19 to give Howard (8-9, 2-1 MEAC) a 35-29 lead at the half.  But the sophomore guard from Hampton, VA, was saddled with his third and fourth fouls in the second half.  It was then that the Bison got a spark from reserve point guard Keon Hill, who came off the bench to score six points and deal out three assists in only nine minutes.

"Keon did a great job of coming in and helping us run more things. I think their defense rested a little bit because obviously when Byrd is in there everybody is trying to stop him, I think that gave us an opportunity to move the ball a little bit more," explained Nickelberry, "I always tell him when opportunity knocks, he has to answer and he definitely answered tonight."

It proved to be just what the Bison needed to set up Carlton's heroic down the stretch.

Carlton finished with a double double of 19 points and 11 rebounds.  James "JT" Miller chipped in with 10 points.

"Those are games we've been on the other side of in the past and maybe that means we are getting a little bit better now that we happen to be on the side of victory," said Nickelberry. 

Coppin State was led by Dallas with his 16, Tariq with 15 and Smith with 12.

NEXT UP: Coppin State hosts Bethune Cookman next Saturday at 4 pm while the Bison will try to keep their unbeaten (6-0) record at home when they take on surprising Delaware State on Monday at 7:30 pm in the Burr.