Daytona Bach, Fl---Charles "CJ" Williams scored a game-high 21 points and Damon Collins and James "JT" Miller added 17 and 16 respectively, but it was enough to hold off Bethune Cookman as Howard dropped a 71-67 decision to the Wildcats at Moore Gymnasium. The loss was the fifth straight for the struggling Bison (5-19, 2-7 in the MEAC) while the Wildcats (5-18, 2-7 in the MEAC) snapped a four-game losing skid. 

Howard got off to another slow start, falling behind 10-0 in the first four minutes. Then Williams and Collins combined for 19 of the Bison's points to take a 35-34 lead at halftime. 

The Wildcats went to a trapping defense that forced Howard into turnovers which led to easy baskets. The result was an 11-point lead at the seven-minute mark. 

"Without a true point guard, teams have had success exploiting us," said Howard Coach Kevin Nickelberry. "Damon is doing an admirable job of playing the point guard, a position he has never played before." 

But the Bison would not quit and put together an 8-0 run to get to within four at 63-59 at the 4:34 mark. Bethune Cookman upped the margin to 67-59 on two free throws by Brandon Tabb. Howard countered and reduced the deficit to 67-63 on baskets by Collins and Miller. 

Remarkably, the Bison reduced the margin to three twice in the waning seconds but Tabb closed the door with two free throws that made it a two-possession game with eight seconds remaining. 

"We were in a position to win and that's all that you can ask for," noted Nickelberry. "Despite all that happened, we were in a position to win it but again, it was turnovers and missed free throw that was the difference." 

Howard had one of its better games of late by assisting on 13 of their 25 field goals made. But the killer again was the turnovers at the most inopportune time. BCU scored 11 of its points off Howard mistakes and used them to hold a 10-2 advantage in fast break points. 

The trio of Williams, Collins and Miller were responsible for 54 points while the rest of the team scored only 13. 

"We have to collectively find ways to have others contribute and not turn the ball over," he said. "I can live with Damon's turnovers because he has never played the position, but it is the other guards that have to stop making these mistakes." Williams and Collins each had five and Miller with four. 

The Wildcats featured a balanced attack with four players in double figures, led by Diamante Lewis with a team-high 18, followed by Reggie Baker with 13 and Quinton Forrest and Ulmer Manzie with 10 each. 

NEXT UP: The Bison will look to snap their current losing skid when they travel to Hampton, Va to take rival Hampton University on Saturday at 6 pm.