Cambridge, MA—A combination of the inability to score and poor free throw shooting proved to be the difference as Howard University dropped a 67-46 decision to Harvard at the Lavietes Pavilion. It was the third straight loss for the Bison (3-11) while the hot Crimson (6-4) won their fifth in a row.
In playing its third game in eight days on the road, Howard showed no signs of fatigue early in going toe-to-toe with the hosts. It resulted in a 16-16 tie. But that is when the tide turned. The Crimson went on a 17-6 run to close out the first half and take control of the game at 33-22 at the half.
During that important stretch, Bryce Aiken led the charge by scoring nine of the points and finish the half with 12 of his game-high 23 points. The Bison got seven points from senior guard Damon Collins, who returned after sitting out the past two games with an injury and leading the Bison with seven points. Howard, however, missed 14 of its 21 shots for 33 percent. The free throw shooting was equally poor as the Bison made only 6 of 13 for 46 percent.
The woes would continue in the second stanza as Harvard rode the scoring of Aiken who finished with 7 of 11 shooting, including 6 of 9 from beyond the arc. The Bison continued to miss shots en route to a 7 for 24 effort from the field and 8 of 16 from the charity stripe.
"You are not going win many games at the Division 1 level when you make only 14 field goals and shoot less than 50 percent from the free throw line," said a frustrated Howard head coach Kevin Nickelberry. "We were right there early when the score was tied but then Marcel Boyd and Damon Collins got in foul trouble and it changed things for us."
The Crimson outscored the Bison, 30-8 on points in the paint, 25-7 in points off turnovers and 33-20 in bench points.
"We have to go back to the drawing board," said Nickelberry. "We have a few days to rest before we open conference play against Florida A&M. I expect us to play well at home."
Tyler Stone led the Bison with nine points and Collins and Charles "CJ" Williams contributed eight each. Williams came into the game averaging over 20 points in the past five games but he made only 2 of 7 shots.
NEXT UP: The Bison host Florida A&M in the MEAC opener on Wednesday at 7:30 pm.
