WASHINGTON (February 8, 2018) – Coach Kevin Nickelberry and the Howard University Men's Basketball team took on rival Hampton in front of a sold-out crowd inside The Burr, but the Bison was unable to slow down the Pirates as they lost this round of the Battle of the Real HU, 95-81.
 
The rivalry featured both squads meeting for the final time as members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) with Hampton leaving the conference to join the Big South.
 
"We knew coming into the game it was a rivalry game," said Nickelberry. "We knew it was going to be energy in the building and a packed house. It's the last time we play them in the league, unless we play them in the tournament, so we knew it was going to be physical."
 
Before tip-off, the Bison family held a moment of silence for long-time Howard athletic trainer Milton "Sonny" Miles, who served the university for more than 30 years.
 
After the National Anthems, Coach Nickelberry and Howard Director of Athletics Kery Davis joined sophomore Charles Williams at center court where he was presented with his 1,000-point custom-made ball.
 
In the contest, Williams and freshman RJ Cole combined for 50 points. Cole finished with a game-best 27 points and six dimes while the Virginia native ended the night registering 23 points on 9-of-18 shooting.
 
The biggest challenge for Howard was staying out of foul trouble. Like Monday's contest at Morgan State, multiple key players were limited due to foul trouble.
 
"The air went out the building with all the fouls in the first half," Nickelberry added. "I think it made us passive, guys couldn't play the same, it changed our approach. We fought back, but it's hard to stay aggressive if you have two guys with three fouls in the first half."
 
Furthermore, sophomore Marcus Hall missed Thursday's showdown due to a death in the family; thus, making the Bison's bench even thinner.
 
"We knew coming in that not having [Marcus] Hall due to a death in the family would make our depth an issue," Nickelberry stated. "And very early in the game Cam [Cameron Lewis] got into foul trouble, along with Kyle Foster. Basically, it became a free throw shooting contest. It was a tough night trying to keep them on the floor."
 
Both Lewis and Foster fouled out and Cole picked up his fourth foul nearly midway through the second half, forcing him to the bench where the Pirates took advantage.
 
"Bottom line is that we're not a deep team," Nickelberry added. "When we get multiple guys in foul trouble, we struggle. It's usually not a good outcome when we get into foul trouble. We must find a way to keep guys on the floor. I must look at film and see what the referees are seeing. We're just not a deep team and that's really created some problems for us."
 
HU cut the Pirates' halftime lead down to one, 47-46, after a layup from Cole, but Hampton went on a 14-5 spurt and built a 10-point advantage with 13:40 remaining, 61-51.
 
Hampton kept the Bison at bay, but Howard refused to go away. Senior Dalique Mingo made a fast-break layup and sliced the margin to six, 78-72, at the 5:32 mark, but the Pirates never faded as they closed out the game on a 17-8 run.
 
Hampton shot a scorching 55-percent (33-of-60) from the floor, including 53-percent (8-of-15) from downtown. Five Pirates reached double-figures, led by Jermaine Marrow and Kalin Fisher with 19 points apiece.
 
Trailing 10-0 to start the game, Howard fought back and took their first lead, thanks to a trey ball from Williams, 16-14.
 
With less than eight minutes left before intermission, both clubs were deadlocked, 22-22, until the Pirates created separation with a 13-2 run and held a double-digit advantage, 35-24.
 
Hampton had the upper hand throughout the first half, but the Bison trimmed the margin to four at the break, 45-41.
 
HU returns to the court Monday (Feb. 12) when Maryland Eastern Shore comes to The Burr. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.