WASHINGTON (November 10, 2017) – Coach Kevin Nickelberry and the Howard University Men's Basketball team came up short in its season opener, falling to crosstown foe George Washington (GW), 84-75, at the Smith Center.
 
Guards RJ Cole and Charles Williams led the Bison attack, combining for 44 points.
 
In his collegiate debut, the New Jersey native had a game-high 23 points, six dimes, and three boards. Williams registered 21 points, along with three blocks in a losing effort.
 
A layup from redshirt junior Jalen Jones tied the game, 42-42, until the Colonials went on an 8-0 run; thus, forcing the Bison to burn a timeout.
 
GW's Jair Bolden connected on a jumper and extended its lead to double-digits, 59-48, with 10:37 remaining.
 
HU sliced the deficit back to single-digits, but Bolden's trey ball with less than six minutes left gave George Washington its largest lead of the game, 72-60.
 
Howard refused to go away as they pressed down the stretch, cutting the deficit as low as four with a minute remaining.
 
George Washington would make clutch free throws to down HU.
 
Newcomer Kyle Foster added 11 points off the bench, including three long balls. Fellow classmate Zion Cousins grabbed a team-best nine rebounds in the loss.
 
Williams came out the gate scoring five quick points, capped off by a three-pointer and gave the Bison its first lead of the game early, 7-5.
 
GW regained the momentum and advantage, but HU continued to battle back.
 
Redshirt freshman Kai Tease tied the contest with three-pointer at the 11:28 mark in the first half, 13-13. A minute later, the California product drilled another trey ball and put Howard back ahead, 16-13.
 
Both squads went back-and-forth until Foster score five points within a 30-second span and gave the Bison its biggest lead of the game, 25-20, with 7:14 remaining before halftime.
 
George Washington tied the contest at the 2:39 mark, 34-34, and finished the half on a 6-0 spurt, 40-34.
 
For GW, Yuta Watanbe manufactured a double-double with 19 points and 11 boards. Bolden chipped in 17 points in the victory.
 
HU continues its seven-game road trip at Indiana. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. (ET).
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.