WASHINGTON, DC --- The Howard University men's basketball team will be looking to keep pace in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) race when it hosts the Wildcats of Bethune Cookman University at 6 pm in Burr Gymnasium.

The recent weather has created havoc with both teams' schedules. The Wildcats (6-14, 3-3 in the MEAC) arrived last Thursday to play Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday and they dropped a 74-72 decision to the Hawks. B-CU was then set to face Howard on Monday but the game was rescheduled due to inclement weather.

The Bison (9-10, 3-1 in the MEAC) had an equally interesting schedule. After the game at Delaware State on January 11 was suspended due to a clock malfunction with 15:41 left in the second half, Howard had to go back to Dover on Wednesday to complete the game that resulted in a 69-61 victory.

They were then scheduled to play Florida A&M University at home on Saturday, but again, the weather had some say, forcing the contest to be rescheduled to February 24.

As for the game, Bethune Cookman is a formidable foe.  The Wildcats lead the MEAC in both blocked shots and in steals.  They feature forwards Laron Smith (7.4 rebounds per game) and Mario Moody (12.6 points, 7.5 rebounds per game) who just happen to rank Numbers 1 and 2 in the conference in blocked shots and guards Jordan Pitts (16.4 points, 4.5 assists) and Ricky Johnson (10.1 points per game).

Howard will counter with junior guard James "J-Byrd" Daniel, III, who leads the nation with 28.4 points per game, junior center Marcel Boyd (9.0 points, 9.3 rebounds), junior forward Tyler Stone (6.8 points, 6.4 rebounds) and junior guard Damon Collins (11.4 points per game).

The Wildcats did a good job of holding Daniel under wraps in Daytona Beach, FL last year, but James "JC" Carlton proved to be the difference in a 45-42 Howard win that snapped a four-game B-CU win streak.

Despite the fact that the Bison hold a 44-22 advantage, the games have been hotly contested of late and often go down to the wire.

NEXT UP
Howard travels to Baltimore, MD on Saturday to take on the Bears of Morgan State in a 4 pm tipoff.