WASHINGTON (December 3, 2018) – After more than a week away from the hardwood, Coach Kevin Nickelberry and the Howard University Men's Basketball team close out their five-game road swing in Boone, N.C. where they will face Appalachian State (ASU). Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
Fans can follow all the action via live stats and ESPN+.
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
On Nov. 24, the Bison rallied from 12 down to outlast the California Baptist Lancers, 86-84, inside the Jack Stephens Center on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
 
The trio of sophomore RJ Cole (Union, N.J.), and juniors Charles Williams (Richmond, Va.) and Chad Lott (Shreveport, La.) combined for 69 points.
 
Newcomer Raymond Bethea, Jr. (Atlantic City, N.J.) provided a spark off the bench, connecting on three trey balls, including back-to-back long balls that put HU ahead at the 16-minute mark, 52-46.
 
MATCHUP PREVIEW
 
Tuesday's showdown will be the first meeting between Howard and Appalachian State.
 
HOWARD
 
Howard (5-2) enters Tuesday's matchup after being off for 10 days. Despite the extended layoff, Coach Nickelberry expressed the benefits of being away.
 
"I think the layoff was good for us," said Nickelberry. "For us being on the road, it gave us a chance to get healthy and catch up in the classroom, which was crucial for us. The most important thing was being able to work on us and get better on both ends."
 
Since their comeback win against California Baptist, the Bison have received recognition from the CollegeInsider.com voting panel by receiving eight votes in this week's Mid-Major Top 25.
 
The three-headed monster of Cole, Lott, and Williams have given opponents headaches in defending Howard. Currently, the Bison are averaging 88.7 points-per-game, which ranks 11^th in the country.
 
Furthermore, Cole is only 65 points away from reaching the 1,000-point club.
 
APPALACHIAN STATE
 
Appalachian State (2-5) comes in after a tough road loss at East Carolina Friday, 83-81.
 
"App State [Appalachian State] is a really good team," Nickelberry stated. "Their guards [Justin Forrest and Ronshad Shabazz] are really good."
 
Justin Forrest and Ronshad Shabazz make up one of the top backcourts in the Sun Belt Conference. Forrest is averaging a team-high 19.2 points, with Shabazz right behind at 18.7 points.
 
So far this season, the Mountaineers are undefeated inside the Holmes Center (2-0).
 
"The hardest part of playing App State is getting here," Nickelberry commented. "It's a brutal trip to get here and everyone knows that. We're playing in a hostile environment, but we going to compete and hopefully come away victorious."
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
 
After nearly a month away, Coach Nickelberry and the Bison return to Burr Gymnasium where they will host crosstown rival American. Game-time is set for 4 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.