LAS VEGAS, NV --- Howard University will be looking to even its season record at .500 when it takes on Texas Southern University Monday evening in the Men Who Speak Up Event Main Event. Tipoff is at 6 pm Eastern at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
The Bison (1-2) are coming off a convincing 106-64 win over Division III Medgar Evers College in their home opener at Burr Gymnasium on Friday. "J-Byrd" Daniel III & his backcourt mate James "JT" Miller combined for 56 points, including 44 in the first half when Howard was running on all cylinders en route to a 57-36 halftime lead. Daniel leads the country in scoring with 28.5 per game.
The junior duo showed why they are one of the top backcourts in the country as they took turns setting each other up for a variety of shots.
Howard also got some solid production from junior guard
Damon Collins, junior forward
Tyler Stone and reserves
Kofi Andoh, Solomon "Solo" Mangham and
Oliver Ellison, the only senior on the squad.
"It is a role generated team," Nickelberry explained. "We look for scoring from our backcourt and then we have players who are rebounders and others who play defense and hustle. If we continue with that formula, we will win more than we lose."
The Bison played Texas Southern two years ago in a tournament and according Nickelberry, "We did not play well."
In the team's opening losses at UMass and at Rutgers as part of the Men Who Speak Up Event, the Bison were able to compete and had chances to win, but some missed free throws and the inability to close out denied the Bison victories over the A-10 & Big Ten teams, respectively.
"Our goal is to play well in this tournament," said Nickelberry, in his sixth season. "Despite the fact that we lost to UMass and Rutgers, we played well. That is what we are focused on."
NEXT UPHoward will face the either the University of Texas at San Antonio or Central Arkansas in their next game of the event on Wednesday.
