ORANGEBURG, S.C. (January 13, 2018) – Howard University Men's Basketball team came up short as the South Carolina State (SCSU) Bulldogs won in overtime, 91-88.
 
HU (3-16, 0-3 MEAC) shot 54-percent (35-of-65) from the floor, including 44-percent (10-of-23) from long range.
 
Sophomore Charles Williams led all the scorers with 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting, including 3-of-5 from downtown. Freshman RJ Cole added 27 points, five dimes, and two boards in a losing effort.
 
Despite the great shooting night, Howard was unable to keep South Carolina State off the glass. SCSU won the rebounding battle, 45-31, while scoring 23 second chance points.
 
"It's been a problem for us all year," said Howard Men's Basketball head coach Kevin Nickelberry. "We did a great job game planning, we just can't put two halves together. As bad as I'm hurting right now, I feel awful for these guys because they did everything to put themselves in the position to win this game."
 
South Carolina State opened the second half with an 18-4 run and took the lead after a trey ball from Janai Rayner-Powell at the 15:05 mark, 48-46.
 
Howard responded with a 9-0 spurt, capped off by a layup from junior Cameron Lewis, 55-48. Both squads throughout the second half went on runs; thus, trading the lead back and forth.
 
With time dwindling, HU trailed the Bulldogs, 76-74, until a clutch pull-up jumper from freshman Kyle Foster tied and sent the game into OT.
 
In overtime, Rayner-Powell connected on a three-pointer and put the Bulldogs ahead, 87-85, but Williams answered with a long ball of his own to give Howard the lead back with 53 ticks remaining, 88-87
 
Moments later, SCSU's Donte Wright made two freebies to put South Carolina State ahead, 89-88.
 
South Carolina State scored on two more free throws after a turnover, 91-88, and Howard missed the game-tying trey ball to send the game into double OT.
 
Lewis finished with 10 points after shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from the field.
 
Williams drilled a three-pointer and gave the Bison a double-digit advantage at the 12:31 mark in the first half, 19-9.
 
South Carolina State battled back and sliced the deficit as low as four with more than five minutes before intermission, 30-26, but HU closed out the period on a 12-4 run and held a 12-point lead at the break, 42-30.
 
"They started with a different lineup in the second half," Nickelberry stated. "They had three post guys over 6-8. They just controlled the rebounding in the second half."
 
SCSU (5-12, 1-2 MEAC) had four Bulldogs reach double-figures, led by Wright with 20 points. Damani Applewhite recorded a double-double, 17 points and 13 boards, while Rayner-Powell and James Richardson posted 18 and 12, respectively.
 
HU men continue its search for their first true road win at Savannah State. Monday night's clash starts 8 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.