Greensboro, NC---The Howard University men's basketball team will be looking to not only extend its current five-game win streak, but also start the MEAC season off with a win.  But it will not be an easy task.  The Bison (5-2, 0-0 in the MEAC) take on the Aggies of North Carolina A&T in the conference opener for both teams.  Tipoff is at 4 pm in the Corbett Sports Arena.
           
NC A&T (2-7, 0-0 in the MEAC) struggled to start the season, dropping its first seven games.  But under veteran head coach Cy Alexander, the Aggies have found something after winning two in a row, the latest a 77-68 road victory over crosstown rival, UNC Greensboro.
           
The Bison are coming off a win over Central Penn College in which 6-11 junior center Marcel Boyd had a career day with 24 points, 16 rebounds and 5 blocked shots.
           
Junior guard James "J-Byrd" Daniel, III, the nation's leading scorer at 28 points per game, had another one of his outstanding performances with 24 points.
           
"When it comes to conference play, you can throw wins, streaks and all of that out of the window," said Howard head coach Kevin Nickelberry.  "As far as I am concerned, we are both 0-0 because we all have the same goal—winning the conference title.  We all know each other well so it changes the things that you can do against non-conference opponents."
           
The series is one of the most highly contested in black college basketball.  The Bison have won three in a row, but the Aggies hold a advantage in the series.
           
"We have always had a tough time playing at A&T," noted Nickelberry.  "They have figured things out and are playing better.  They are getting (Bruce) Beckford and (Sam) Hunt more involved and so it is going to be a challenge."  Beckford is averaging almost 17 points and 7 rebounds per game while Hunt is averaging 13 points.
           
Howard has had to go to its bench due to injuries to two of its starters, junior guard James "JT" Miller and junior forward Tyler Stone.  Miller, the team's second leading scorer with 16 points per game, suffered a fracture on his shooting hand against Central Arkansas and will be out for four to six weeks.  Stone suffered a high ankle sprain and has missed the last two games, but he has resumed practice and will be a game time decision.
           
Junior guards Kofi Andoh and Dalique Mingo have stepped up more than adequately for Miller and Solomon "Solo" Mangham has played beyond expectations in Stone's place.  The 6-7 junior grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds in the win over Central Penn College.
           
"Not having Miller has forced us to make some adjustments, but the players have stepped up and filled their roles," said Nickelberry.  "We just have to continue doing what we have been doing and we will be successful."

NEXT UP:The Bison play the Eagles of North Carolina Central on Monday at 7:30 pm in Durham while the Aggies host Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday at 7:30 pm.

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