WASHINGTON (January 22, 2018) – Coach Kevin Nickelberry and the Howard University Men's Basketball team took down the North Carolina A&T (NCAT) Aggies in overtime, 90-88, inside The Burr.
 
With the victory, HU (5-17, 2-4 MEAC) gave the Aggies its first loss in league play.
 
Four Bison reached double figures, led by freshman RJ Cole and sophomore Charles Williams combining for 45 points. Senior Dalique Mingo and newcomer Kyle Foster added 12 points apiece in the victory.
 
"Our record doesn't indicate how good a team we are," said Nickelberry. "We've been in a lot of close games this year and these experiences have prepared us for tonight. They fought through a lot of things tonight. We stepped up tonight."
 
NCAT opened the second half on a 6-0 spurt, forcing the Bison to call a timeout. After the brief break, Howard answered and pushed the lead back to double digits after a trey ball from Williams, 46-36.
 
Cole made a layup and gave the Bison a 12-point advantage with 10:31 remaining, 58-46, but the Aggies responded with a 10-1 run and cut the margin down to three, 59-56.
 
HU countered, scoring seven unanswered, capped off by a long ball from Foster, 66-56. North Carolina A&T State made one final run as they tied the game, thanks to a layup from Davaris McGowens with 15 ticks remaining, 71-71.
 
With time waning, Foster made a layup with seconds left, but McGowens connected on a jumper and sent the game into OT, 73-73.
 
NCAT's Femi Olujobi scored the first bucket in overtime, but Cole's long ball gave Howard the lead with 3:53 remaining, 76-75. HU kept the pressure on as they went on a 10-2 spurt and held a nine-point advantage with 41 ticks left, 86-77.
 
North Carolina A&T State refused to go away as they made another run, but the Bison would hold off the Aggies' late charge.
 
"This young team has a category that doesn't show in the box score, which is heart," Nickelberry stated. "It's something you can't teach and that's what I like about this team."
 
Freshman Zion Cousins fell a point shy of a double-double, finishing with 10 boards (team-high) and nine points.
 
In the final seven minutes before intermission, Howard held a double-digit advantage, including its largest lead at the 3:10 mark, 38-22. North Carolina A&T State cut the down to single digits, but a trey ball from Mingo gave the Bison a 12-point lead at the break, 41-29.
 
NCAT (12-9, 4-1 MEAC) shot a respectable 45-percent (32-of-71) from the floor. McGowens and Olujobi each recorded a double-double in a losing effort.
 
HU looks to keep the momentum going as they travel to Princess Anne, Md., where the Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks await. Game-time is scheduled for 4 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.