WASHINGTON (December 28, 2018) – With more than a week before conference play, the Howard University Men's Basketball team concludes 2018 with a nonconference matchup against crosstown foe Georgetown (GU) inside the Capital One Arena. Tip-off is set for noon and can be watched on Fox Sports 1.
 
Fans can also follow all the action via live stats.
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
Saturday (Dec. 22), the Bison 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.
 
Sophomore guard RJ Cole (Union, N.J.) led the way with a team-leading 29 points, six rebounds and six assists while guards Charles Williams (Richmond, Va.) and Raymond Bethea, Jr. (Atlantic City, N.J.) combined for 31 points.
 
Second-year forward Zion Cousins (Upper Marlboro, Md.) played nearly all 40 minutes while grabbing a career-high 13 boards in the loss.
 
MATCHUP PREVIEW
 
HOWARD
 
HU (6-7) enters Saturday's showdown looking to snap its long skid of the year at four games.

With the injury bug rearing its head once again, several Bison have been fighting through; thus, being listed day-to-day. In the last two games, the squad has been without redshirt guard Chad Lott (Shreveport, La.) and freshman forward Andre Toure (Paris, France).
 
"We're must rebound and get back to the free throw line," said Howard Men's Basketball head coach Kevin Nickelberry. "Before [Chad] Lott and [Andre] Toure went down, we were one of the best teams in the country [in] getting to the [free throw] line while being a solid rebounding team."
 
Howard ranks seventh in the country, attempting 335 total free throws (25.8 free throws per game), but well below their average in the last two games (15.5 free throws per game).
 
In the rebounding category, HU has been outrebounded, 80-68, over the past two contests with Georgetown outrebounding foes, 480-413.
 
"We got to find some guys that can give us rebounding, along with free throws," Nickelberry added. "We must adjust and get ready to play Georgetown Saturday."
 
Cousins leads the squad with 7.7 rebounds per game (rpg), followed by newcomer Akuwovo Ogheneyole (Delta State, Nigeria) averaging 5.7 rpg.
 
Offensively, Cole (20.5 ppg) and Williams (18.3 ppg) are HU's one-two punch; however, will need another option in order to knock off the Hoyas. Bethea, Jr. has answered the call, registering 14 points per game in the absence of Lott and Toure.
 
GEORGETOWN
 
GU (9-3) comes in with back-to-back wins over Appalachian State, 83-73, and Little Rock, 102-94 (OT). Currently, the Hoyas are 7-1 at home with their lone loss coming against Southern Methodist (SMU), 81-73.
 
"We have to match their toughness," Nickelberry concluded. "If we don't fix the rebounding, it's going to be a long night."
 
Jessie Govan leads the club in scoring (17.9 ppg), followed by James Akinjo (14.6 ppg). Recently, Mac McClung was named Big East Rookie of the Week after posting 26.0 ppg in the last two games.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
 
On Jan. 5, Coach Nickelberry and the Bison host Florida A&M in their league opener. Game-time is scheduled for 4 p.m.
 
Two nights later (Jan. 7), HU travels to Princess Anne, Md. to face Maryland Eastern Shore. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.