WASHINGTON (December 22, 2018) – Howard University Men's Basketball team dropped a tough bout to longtime nemesis Hampton, 89-82, after the Pirates shot a scorching 63-percent (19-of-30) in the second half while scoring 57 points. The contest took place inside the Entertainment and Sports Arena as part of the D.C. Holiday HoopsFest.
With the setback, HU fell to 6-7 whereas Hampton moved to 5-7 on the season.
"They did a good job making it tough in the second half," said Howard Men's Basketball head coach
Kevin Nickelberry. "We got what we wanted in the first half, but they made it tough in the second [half]."
Howard shot a respectable 44-percent (31-of-70) on the night and took a seven-point halftime lead, 39-32, but Hampton battled back, beginning on the glass.
"We gave up 57 points in the second half," Nickelberry stated. "They were able to hurt us on the glass. [Zion] Cousins got tired and we didn't have too many options to help him on the glass."
Second-year forward
Zion Cousins (Upper Marlboro, Md.) played nearly all 40 minutes while filling in for the reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Rookie of the Week
Andre Toure (Paris, France). In his efforts, the Maryland product grabbed a career-high 13 boards in the loss.
Sophomore guard
RJ Cole (Union, N.J.) led the way with a team-leading 29 points, six rebounds and six assists. Additionally, the New Jersey native reached the charity stripe 17 times and made 13 free throws.
"RJ [Cole] shot 17 free throws and the rest of the team shot only one," Nickelberry added. "We didn't get to the line and [we] didn't rebound the ball."
For the second consecutive game, Toure and redshirt junior
Chad Lott (Shreveport, La.) were out due to injuries.
"We got exposed tonight by not having [Chad] Lott and [Andre] Toure," said Nickelberry. "Their athleticism and ability to rebound and get to the line were missed these last two games."
Hampton outrebounded the Bison, 41-33, and took four more free throw attempts than Howard.
Guards
Charles Williams (Richmond, Va.) and
Raymond Bethea, Jr. (Atlantic City, N.J.) combined for 31 points. Williams registered 18 points while Bethea, Jr. added 14 points in the absence of Lott.
Hampton's Jermaine Marrow produced a game-high 31 points on 10-of-19 shooting while Akim Mitchell notched a double-double with 18 points and 10 boards in the victory.
With conference play two weeks away, Coach Nickelberry understands that his squad must respond.
"We got to find a way to respond," Nickelberry concluded. "[Chad] Lott and [Andre] Toure are probably not playing anytime soon so we got to find guys who can help us in the toughness department. And I know we got those guys in the locker room."
Howard ends the 2018 year against crosstown foe Georgetown inside the Capital One Arena. Game-time is scheduled for noon.
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at
www.HUBison.com.
