Orangeburg, SC---The final two seconds of the Savannah State game must have seemed like an eternity for Howard head men's basketball coach Kevin Nickelberry.  As the desperation shot left the hands of Javaris Jenkins, the body language went from one of "Oh, No!" to "When!" in a split second as the ball missed fire and the buzzer sounded as Howard escaped with a 50-48 win on Saturday.
 
Jenkins had been in a similar situation for the Tigers a couple of games ago at Coppin State and he delivered a three pointer at the end to give his team a 73-70 win.
                 
That drama is over, but a new one begins when Howard takes on South Carolina State (10-18, 7-6 MEAC) in an important MEAC showdown tonight at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Center at 7:30 pm.  The Bison are in a dogfight with Delaware State, Maryland Eastern Shore, Hampton and the Bulldogs for the third or fourth seed in the upcoming MEAC Tournament (March 9-14 in Norfolk, VA).
                 
It will not be easy as South Carolina State is one of the surprise teams, along with UMES and the Bison, who were not factors in the preseason poll.  The Bulldogs have posted wins this season over the Pirates, the Hawks and the Hornets.  They have in Edward Stephens, a strong favorite to win the MEAC Rookie of the Year honors to go along with Darryl Palmer.
                 
"All of these game coming down the stretch are big," says Nickelberry.  "They and UMES are a lot like us in that we have not gone away (in the race).  We are all jockeying for position and if it comes down to tie breakers, these games could factor in to where you finish."  The Top 4 seeds receive a bye in the first round of the week-long tournament.
                 
Howard (14-13, 8-5 MEAC) will need continued production from James "JC" Carlton and James "J-Byrd" Daniel, III, who are candidates for Player of the Year honors.  They both average over 16 points per game while sophomore guard James "JT" Miller chips in with almost 12 points per game.
                 
That, along with some outstanding defense, has been the formula for the Bison through most of the season.  But of late, Howard has been getting some unexpected, but needed contributions from its reserves.  In the Savannah State game, it was red-shirt junior guard Brandon Ford.  In the UMES game, it was red-shirt sophomore guard Keon Hill, sophomore guard Kofi Andoh, senior center Theodore Boyomo and sophomore forward Tyler Stone.  And in the contest versus Hampton, it was red-shirt junior center Oliver Ellison and senior guard Jared Norsworthy.
                 
"We have been working all season to get contributions from other than the Big 3," said Nickelberry.  "Now we are beginning to see the results as each game, different players are coming forward and making contributions."
                 
Following this game, Howard returns home for two pivotal conference games against Hampton on Saturday at 6 pm in Burr and on Monday against Norfolk State at 7:30 pm.  The Bison close out the regular season with a non-conference match at NJIT before getting ready for the MEAC Tournament.
                 
"The important thing is that the players lock in," noted Nickelberry.  "It's all about momentum as this point and who is playing well headed into the tournament."
 
GAME NOTES: J-Byrd became the first male player in Howard history to reach the 1,000-point mark in just his sophomore season at the 6:40 mark of the first half against Savannah State…The 14 wins by the Bison are the most in a season since the 2002-03 when the team finished 13-17…the eight MEAC wins is the most since that same season when Howard finished 9-9.
 
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