Las Vegas, NV---James "J-Byrd" Daniel, III scored a game-high 22 points and Damon Collins and Marcel Boyd each registered double doubles to lead Howard University to an easy 73-54 win over the University of Central Arkansas in the Middleweight championship game of the Men Who Speak Up Event at the MGM Grand Arena.
           
Daniel and Collins got the Bison (3-2) off and running, combining for 19 of their team's 40 halftime points.  As effective as the duo was in the scoring area, it was the Howard defense that was especially stifling.  Using its pesky matchup zone, the Bison got to loose balls, forced errant shots and created a frenzy that the Bears (1-4) could not handle.
           
During the first 12 minutes of the game, Howard shot 54 percent from the field, held UCA to 21 percent shooting and held a 20-9 advantage on the boards.
           
"That is who were are," said a proud Howard Coach Kevin Nickelberry.  "The matchup zone frustrated them into bad shots and turnovers.  When we create that type of tempo, it helps us on the offensive end as you saw tonight."
           
Collins, a 6-7 junior guard, known mostly for his all-around play, has emerged as a bonafide scorer.  He finished with 13 points on 7 of 8 shooting while also grabbing a career-high 13 rebounds.  He is coming off a career-best 17 points in Monday's win over Texas Southern.
           
"He's beginning to blossom," said Nickelberry of Collins.  "He is long at 6-7, he can defend and he can rebound the basketball.  Now you are beginning to see him emerge as the third wheel behind Daniel and (James "JT") Miller in the scoring area.  We are not surprised.  He comes from one of the top programs in the country in Prime Prep so he knows how to play against quality competition."
           
Boyd, a 6-11, 225-pound junior, also showed that he is a force to be reckoned with in the Bison's quest for success.  He controlled the boards, finishing with 10 while also scoring 10 points, most coming on a hook shot that has become very effective.  He averaged 10 points and 9 rebounds and two blocked shots in the tournament.
           
The Bison lead remained steady early in the second half until the Bears rallied and cut the lead to 11 with still a lot of time to play.  But junior reserved guard Kofi Andoh, who has also come on strong, drew a key charge to stop the potential run.  Not normally known for his scoring, Andoh chipped in with six points in 13 minutes.
           
From there, Daniel, took over, scoring 13 of his points after intermission to help the Bison win their third straight and garner him MVP honors.  He averaged 26 points and 3.5 steals in the two games.
           
Daniel, a 5-11 junior from Hampton, VA, who is ranked in the Top 4 in the country in scoring at almost 30 per game, added 4 steals.  He came into the game ranked fourth in the country in that category.  He has now converted on 42 of 45 free throws the past four games.  He came in leading the country in free throws attempted.
           
The win marked the first time that the program has won back-to-back games in a tournament and the first final that they have made since the 2001-02 season.
           
UCA was led in scoring by Jordan Howard with 16 and Justin Foreman with 12.

GAME STATS: The Bison shot 50 percent from the floor, won the rebounding battle, 42-34 and held a whopping 44-26 advantage in the paint.

NEXT UP: Howard returns home to host the College of William & Mary on Saturday at 4 pm in Burr Gymnasium.  It will be Youth/Community Day as all youth groups will be admitted to the game free.