Box Score Daytona Beach, FL—James "JC" Carlton put the Howard University team on his back, pouring in a game-high 27 points, including the last four from the free throw line, to help Howard University pull out a hard-fought 45-42 win over Bethune Cookman in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game at Moore Gymnasium.
The win snapped a four-game losing streak to the Wildcats, dating back to 2010-11.
The game was a nip-and-and tuck affair from start to finish, with neither team able to get an advantage. The Wildcats did hold a 27-25 advantage at the half despite 16 points by Carlton, who tied his career-high.
There was one point from the four-minute mark of the first half until three minutes in the second half that neither team was able to score.
From there, every possession was an adventure as the two teams traded blows.
"It was a very competitive game," said Howard Coach
Kevin Nickelberry. "We both like to play ugly and are defensive-minded. But I thought the difference was that we had the best player on the floor in JC. He stepped up big time tonight and delivered."
The Howard defense forced the Wildcats to miss 18 of 21 shots after intermission for 14 percent. Bethune Cookman made up by converting at the free throw line, hitting on nine of 12 and out-rebounding the Bison 13-5 on the offensive glass. Ironically, it was at the charity stripe where they would ultimately lose the game.
With 1:30 left, Brandon Stewart of Bethune Cookman missed one of two to make the score, 41-40, Howard. Carlton who was a perfect seven of seven from the line, was fouled with 1:01 and he calmly sank both to give Howard the lead at 43-41.
Ricky Johnson, one of the better free throw shooters on the BCU team at 82 percent, went to the line after hitting all five of his previous attempts, but he missed and Carlton grabbed the rebound and was fouled.
The 6-8 senior forward from Winterville, NC and transfer from the College of Charleston went to the free throw line and sank both with three ticks left on the clock. Bethune Cookman's Denzel Dulin heaved a shot from three quarters court that went over the basket as the buzzer sounded.
Nickelberry has worked all season on developing depth on the team and much like in the win over Florida A&M on Saturday, it paid dividends.
Brandon Ford,
Keon Hill,
Brandon Ford,
Oliver Ellison and Thedore Boyomo all contributed. And while it may have translated into hard stats, it served as valuable intangibles.
"We began to sub more than usual midway through the second half," noted Nickelberry. "We are a little deeper than they are and I think they began to tire. Theo, in particular, was a huge key. Their big man (Travis Elliott) was killing us on the glass and giving them second chance opportunities. Theo went in, bodied him up and was able to create those opportunities for JC."
Carlton connected on 10 of 15 from field, grabbed six rebounds, was a perfect seven for seven from the free throw line and had a block and two steals in 38 minutes of play.
James "J-Byrd" Daniel, III, the team leading scorer at 17.4 per game, finished with five points. But the sophomore guard from Hampton, VA hit three free throws late in the game while dealing out a career-high six assists.
The Wildcats got 14 from Johnson and 12 from Stewart.
GAME NOTES: The win gives the Bison a 10-10 record and 4-2 in the MEAC, making it their best start in a decade. Howard made 12 of 14 free throws (86 percent), including all 10 in the second stanza. The Bison held an advantage on points in the paint (22 to 12) and in points off turnovers (16 to 9). One of the few times this season, Howard was outrebounded (35-24).
NEXT UP: Howard returns home for a game against Morgan State on Saturday at 4 pm while the Wildcats will travel to Tallahassee where they will take on the Rattlers of Florida A&M at 4 pm.
