Las Vegas, NV---During the second half of Monday's game against Texas Southern, the Howard men's basketball team appeared in control as it held a 12-point lead.  But the scrappy, veteran Tigers, fought their way back to a one-point lead with under three minutes remaining and looked like they had the momentum.

During a timeout, Howard head coach Kevin Nickelberry, diagrammed a play and calmly talked about poise and winning the game.  The team, which is dominated by juniors who have been through the wars of Division 1 basketball the past two years, calmly responded with a late spurt to defeat Texas Southern, 87-81 in the Men Who Speak Up tournament at the MGM Grand Arena.

As a reward, the Bison (2-2) will take on the Bears of the University of Central Arkansas (1-3) in the Middleweight Division championship on Wednesday at 6 pm EST.

The poise to hold it together and make the necessary plays is not something that would have been evident last year or the year before from this group.  But this team has a different attitude.
           
"It take time to get to this point," explained Nickelberry, in his sixth season at the helm.  "Now the players are beginning to understand the system and to believe in it."
           
The system is predicated on the scoring of the Dynamic backcourt of James "J-Byrd" Daniel and James "JT" Miller to go along with the rebounding of juniors Marcel Boyd and Tyler Stone, the high energy of junior Kofi Andoh and senior Oliver Ellison off the bench, the shooting of junior Solomon "Solo" Mangham off the bench and the all-around play of junior Damon Collins, who is emerging as a special player.
           
"That is the way we are built," says Nickelberry.  "We expect scoring from out guards and contributions from others.  Some call them role players and it takes on the meaning that they are not that significant.  But that is not the case with us.  The role that each of them plays is a part of our success."
           
During the Texas Southern game, Miller, who came into the game averaging 20 points per game, picked up two early fouls and had to go to the bench.  Meanwhile, Daniel, the nation's leading scorer with almost 30 per game, picked up the slack, tallying 16 points to give his team a 47-42 halftime lead.
           
Miller returned but picked up his third foul while the Tigers were able to hold Daniel scoreless for a period during the half.  It did not matter because Collins turned in his best game with 17 points to keep his team going.  Then at different times, Boyd, Stone, Mangham and Andoh all made those significant plays in key moments until Daniel closed it out with his deadly free throw shooting.
           
It will take that kind of team effort of the Bison are to defeat the Bears.
           
"They are feeling good about themselves after knocking off a Conference USA team (UTSA)," said Nickelberry, referring to the University of Central Arkansas.  "They are a veteran team that is physical and they play hard.  They are somewhat similar to us. They feature a strong post player and one of the top guards in their conference.  It will be a strong test for us. We just have to continue to do the things we have been doing."
 
NEXT UP: Howard returns home on Saturday to take William and Mary at 4 pm in Burr Gymnasium.  It will be Youth and Community Day as all youth groups will be admitted free.