Washington, DC—There will be more on the line than local bragging rights when Howard faces off against Georgetown University in a non-conference matchup at the Verizon Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:30 pm and the game will be broadcast on FSI.
Both teams are struggling for a win coming into this game. The Bison (0-4) are looking for their first win after losses at Michigan, at Marquette and against IUPUI and Gardner Webb in the 2K Classic for Wounded Warriors in the span of nine days.
The Hoyas (2-4) are off to a slow start after dropping games. Georgetown played a spirited game against the University of Maryland, holding a seven-point lead late, only to have the Terps close out strong for the 76-75 win. The Hoyas rebounded nicely with a big win over nationally ranked Oregon (65-61) but dropped games to Wisconsin (73-57) and to Oklahoma State (97-70) in the Maui Classic in Hawaii.
The problem has been the absence of senior guard James "J-Byrd" Daniel, III, the leading scorer in the country with 27 points per game last season. Daniel, the school's all-time leading scorer, suffered a high ankle sprain in the pre-season and has yet to play and could be out for another three weeks.
Because of his value to the team as a scorer and playmaker, the Bison have had problems with scoring points, but also the loss of a valuable playmaker, who led the team in assists last season. Adding to its woes, Howard lost the services of projected back-up point guard, freshman Kai Tease, who suffered a knee injury and could be out for the season.
As a result, the Bison have turned the ball over at the most inopportune times, leading to runs by their opponents that have resulted in increased leads. On the season, Howard is shooting 38 percent from the field as a team and only 28 percent from the arc.
"After the four games in nine days, it was good to have this break," said Howard head coach Kevin Nickelberry. "It gave us a chance to get some rest and take a break and reflect. At this, wins and losses are not the most important thing. It is more about us using our overall team experience to get us this adversity and dig ourselves out of this hole. It is all about relying on each other."
In an effort to bring some stability to the offense, Coach Nickelberry has turned to senior Damon Collins. Normally, a two guard/small forward, Collins is off to a fine start. The multi-talented senior from Dallas, TX is averaging almost 11 points a game while leading the team in rebounding (5.0 per game) and in assists (2.5).
"This is his first time playing the point," noted Nickelberry. "All things considered, he has done an admirable job."
Collins will try to get more shots from red-shirt junior guard James "JT" Miller who leads the team in scoring and is coming off a season-high 25-point effort against Gardner Webb and senior forward Solomon "Solo" Mangham, who averages almost 12 per game and is shooting 50 percent from three-point range.
The Bison have gotten a surprising shot in the arm from Charles "CJ" Miller, a freshman guard from Richmond, VA who started the season as a reserve but earned a starting spot against IUPUI. The talented, high flying Williams rewarded the coaches' decision by scoring a game- and career-high 15 points in that game. He averages almost 10 points per game and is the team's fourth leading scorer.
Against the Hoyas, Howard will need to get a better production from senior center Marcel Boyd, a 6-11 red-shirt senior from Accokeek, MD. A pre-season first team all-MEAC selection, Boyd has been hampered by early foul trouble and thus, not effective.
The Hoyas have also has similar problems. The talented group from the Big East, has had problems scoring at times and have not helped themselves by turning the ball over at a 15-per-game clip.
Georgetown relies heaving on the scoring of transfer guard Rodney Pryor and junior forward L.J. Peak, who combine for 34 points between them.
GAME NOTES: The Bison have never defeated Georgetown in seven tries…the last time they met was in 2011-12 when the Hoyas prevailed, 62-48 in the closest in the series…this will be the first of four straight meetings between the Bison and local teams…following this game, Howard will host American University in its home opener on Saturday, December 3 at 4 pm…they will follow with "road" games at Maryland, December 7 at 9 pm and at George Washington, December 10 at 7 pm.
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