WASHINGTON (January 10, 2019) – After grabbing a big road win Monday, Coach Kevin Nickelberry and the Howard University men's basketball team returns to Burr Gymnasium for a pair of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) matchups.
 
Saturday (Jan. 12), HU hosts MEAC Preseason favorite Bethune-Cookman (B-CU). Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. Two nights later (Jan. 14), the Bison welcome Beltway rival Morgan State (MSU) to The Hilltop. Game-time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
 
Fans can follow both games at www.HUBison.com.
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
Monday (Jan. 7), the Bison won their first MEAC contest by blowing out Maryland Eastern Shore on the road, 79-39, inside the W. P. Hytche Center.
 
With the victory, HU snapped its longest skid of the season at six while breaking its seven-game road losing streak.
 
Sophomore RJ Cole (Union, N.J.) finished with a game-high 26 points, seven rebounds, and five assists while junior guard Charles Williams (Richmond, Va.) added 16 points and six rebounds in the victory.
 
On the glass, Howard outrebounded the Hawks 46-31, led by sophomore forward Zion Cousins (Upper Marlboro, Md.) pulling down a career-high 13 boards.
 
MATCHUP PREVIEWS
 
HOWARD
 
Howard (7-9, 1-1 MEAC) returns to The Hilltop after splitting last weekend against Florida A&M and Maryland Eastern Shore. Coach Nickelberry knows that protecting home court is critical in MEAC play.
 
"We want to win at home," said Nickelberry. "It's key in league play. It's important to come out and put ourselves in a position to win."
 
For the Bison to win, they must match the physicality of Bethune-Cookman and Morgan State.
 
"Both teams are very physical," Nickelberry continued. "We need to set a physical tone at home and make shots all weekend."
 
Although Howard found its rhythm at Maryland Eastern Shore, the most noteworthy takeaway was HU holding the Hawks to 39 points.
 
"This weekend is all about defense and toughness," Nickelberry concluded. "We must build on what we did at Maryland Eastern Shore and be the better team Saturday and Monday."
 
BETHUNE-COOKMAN
 
B-CU (5-10, 0-1 MEAC) enters Saturday's showdown seeking to bounce back from their conference opener at North Carolina Central, 68-59. Cletrell Pope ranks among the nation's leaders in rebounding, averaging 11.6 boards per game (6^th in the NCAA).
 
Saturday's contest will be the 71^st meeting between Howard and Bethune-Cookman with the Bison leading the series, 44-26.
 
Last season, Cole and Williams combined for 62 points, but B-CU slipped by the Bison in overtime, 92-87.
 
MORGAN STATE
 
Before meeting the Bison, Morgan State (6-9, 1-1 MEAC) squares off against South Carolina State inside the Hill Field House in Baltimore. Bears head coach Todd Bozeman enters his 13^th season at the helm where they were projected to finish sixth in the MEAC.
 
Monday's clash will be the 108^th meeting between Howard and Morgan State with the Bears leading the series, 63-44.
 
A year ago, MSU snapped the Bison's four-game winning streak with a 97-61 victory inside the Hill Field House. Despite the loss, Cole had an incredible game, dropping a game-high 30 points, four boards and four dimes.
 
PROMOTIONS
 
The Howard Athletics is offering complimentary tickets to men's and women's basketball games for furloughed federal employees.
 
The offer is available for all regular season home men's and women's basketball games during the government shutdown. The offer may be redeemed on the day of the game at the box office in Burr Gym. Federal employees are limited to two complimentary tickets per contest and must show a valid government ID.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
 
Saturday (Jan. 19), Howard travels to Orangeburg, S.C. where the South Carolina State Bulldogs await. Tip-off at 4 p.m.

Two days later (Jan. 21), the Bison host Harvard on Martin Luther King Day. Game-time is slated for 1 p.m. inside The Burr.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.