LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (November 23, 2018) – Little Rock shot a scorching 59-percent (31-of-53) from the field to down the Howard University Men's Basketball team, 97-76, inside the Jack Stephens Center.
 
HU (4-2) overcame a sluggish first half, shooting a respectable 45-percent (17-of-38) after intermission while scoring 46 points; however, the damage was done. In the first 20 minutes of action, Little Rock eclipsed over 64-percent (18-of-28) from the field, including 50-percent (4-of-8) behind the arc.
 
"We didn't make a lot of shots," said Howard Men's Basketball head coach Kevin Nickelberry. "We missed a lot of easy baskets and when we missed shots, they got out in transition. The only way to keep a team from running is to make shots."
 
Sophomore guard RJ Cole (Union, N.J.) led all Bison with a season-best 26 points in 33 minutes played. After a slow start, junior guard Charles Williams (Richmond, Va.) finished with 13 points while shooting 86-percent (6-of-7) from foul line.
 
Redshirt junior Chad Lott (Shreveport, La.) had a solid night, scoring 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting, but picked up two early fouls in the first half that limited him to only 25 minutes.
 
"Chad [Lott] got in foul trouble early," Nickelberry continued. "It hurt us. It's the second straight game he's been in foul trouble. We got to find a way to keep him on the court."
 
Overall, Howard committed 23 fouls and saw multiple Bison in foul trouble. As a result, the Trojans capitalized and shot nearly 84-percent (26-of-31) from the charity stripe.
 
"We made it to the free throw line a lot in our first few games," Coach Nickelberry added. "We haven't been able to get to the line. They [Little Rock] took twice as many foul shots than us. We have to do a better job not fouling and limiting transition points."
 
Howard averaged nearly 37 free throw attempts in the first four games, but only 11 freebies per contest in the last two outings, including 15 foul line attempts against Little Rock.
 
Five Trojans (3-2) reached double-figures, led by Deondre Burns with a career-high 29 points off the bench.
 
Howard has a quick turnaround as they face California Baptist Saturday (Nov. 24) at 1 p.m. inside the Jack Stephens Center.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.