LYNCHBURG, Va. (November 27, 2017) – Coach Kevin Nickelberry and the Howard University Men's Basketball team ended its seven-game road swing with a 75-55 loss at Liberty (LU).
 
HU (0-7) was unable to find their rhythm, shooting 39-percent (20-of-51) from the field, including 27-percent from downtown. Additionally, the Bison shot all 17 free throw attempts in the second half and went 53-percent (9-of-17) from the charity stripe.
 
"Tonight, I thought we played a good team that we struggled to keep off the glass and free throw line," said Nickelberry. "We did a better job getting to the free throw line in the second half after not attempting one in the first half. We tried to change things up and added a shooter in the lineup with [Kai] Tease so it will take us a little time to get adjusted."
 
Liberty outrebounded the Bison, 37-24.
 
Guards RJ Cole and Charles Williams combined for 25 points. Williams had a team-best 13 points while Cole provided 12 points, seven dimes, and three boards in 33 minutes of action.
 
LU's Scottie James made a layup and gave the Flames its largest lead of the game, 47-24, with 16:52 left.
 
Howard refused to go away as they chipped away at the deficit. HU cut the margin as low as 16, but Liberty continued to make shots. In the second half, LU shot 65-percent (13-of-20) from the floor, including 86-percent (6-of-7) from the charity stripe.
 
For Liberty (5-2), five Flames reached double-figures. James produced a double-double, 14 points and 10 boards, while Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz registered a game-high 17 points in the victory.
 
LU opened the contest on a 10-0 run until a trey ball from redshirt freshman Kai Tease ended HU's scoring drought. Liberty kept the pressure on as they extended its advantage to double-figures after a three-pointer by Ryan Kemrite, 18-7.
 
Howard battled, but the Flames did not allow HU to set the tempo. With less than 10 ticks remaining before intermission, Pacheco-Ortiz split a pair of free throws and gave Liberty a 19-point lead at the break, 39-20.
 
Thursday (Nov. 30), Coach Nickelberry and the Bison host Central Penn in their home opener. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside Burr Gymnasium.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.