WASHINGTON (January 25, 2019) – Howard University men's basketball team resumes conference play Saturday (Jan. 26) when the Delaware State (DSU) Hornets come to Burr Gymnasium. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. Two days later (Jan. 28), the Bison continue their home stretch with Maryland Eastern Shore. Game-time is set for 7 p.m. on ESPNU.
 
Fans can follow all the action at www.HUBison.com or click here for tickets.
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
Monday (Jan. 21), the Bison fell short to Harvard, 84-71, in front of a packed house at Burr Gymnasium.
 
The Bison were led by sophomore RJ Cole (Union, N.J.) with a game-high 21 points and eight assists.
 
Junior Charles Williams (Richmond, Va.) added 19 points and five rebounds while redshirt junior Chad Lott (Shreveport, La.) chipped in 16 points, five assists, and three rebounds.
 
Freshman Raymond Bethea, Jr. (Atlantic City, N.J.) netted 12 points off the bench, knocking down four three pointers in the loss.
 
MATCHUP PREVIEWS
 
HOWARD
 
HU (8-12, 2-3 MEAC) enters the weekend with an opportunity to move up the league standings. Currently, the Bison sit seventh while holding the tiebreaker over South Carolina State.
 
"We need to get back to .500 in league play," said Howard men's basketball head coach Kevin Nickelberry. "They are going to try to slow down our top scorers so other guys must step up."
 
All season long, Cole, Lott and Williams have spearheaded the Bison attack, combining for more than 54 points per game.
 
Although Howard tops the league in scoring (79.2 ppg), HU's recent challenge is securing home victories in conference play (0-3).
 
"It's two home games so we must take advantage," Nickelberry stated. "They're league games and we need to win [both]."
 
Currently, HU has dropped its last four contests inside The Burr after starting 4-0.
 
DELAWARE STATE
 
DSU (3-16, 0-6 MEAC) seeks their first conference win of the season. First-year head coach Eric Skeeters and his club are last in the league standings. Delaware State rolls into D.C. with three Hornets averaging double-figures, led by Kevin Larkin (16.5 ppg). Pinky Wiley ranks second on the squad (10.3 ppg), followed by Saleik Edwards (10.0 ppg).
 
MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE
 
Since the last meeting, Maryland Eastern Shore (3-18, 1-5 MEAC) has lost three-out-of-four with their lone victory coming in OT at Florida A&M, 60-58. As of today, the Hawks are last in scoring (55.1 ppg). Graduate Student Ryan Andino leads the club, registering 10.0 points per game.
 
Back on Jan. 7, the Bison won their first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) contest by blowing out Maryland Eastern Shore on the road, 79-39, inside the W. P. Hytche Center.
 
Cole finished with a game-high 26 points, seven rebounds, and five assists while Williams added 16 points and six rebounds in the victory.
 
On the glass, sophomore forward Zion Cousins (Upper Marlboro, Md.) pulling down a career-high 13 boards.
 
PROMOTIONS
 
COACHES VS. CANCER
 
Saturday's promotion is Coaches vs. Cancer.
 
For over 25 years, the Coaches vs. Cancer program, in collaboration with the National Association of Basketball Coaches, has united coaches and fans nationwide to help the American Cancer Society defeat a common enemy – cancer. With your passion and dedicated support, the impact has been felt in communities nationwide.
 
Through fundraising and education initiatives, the Coaches vs. Cancer program has supported the American Cancer Society in improving and saving lives from cancer in the US and worldwide.
 
HEALTH & WELLNESS
 
Along with Monday's matchup being on ESPNU, the night is also Health & Wellness.
 
Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life. Wellness is more than being free from illness, it is a dynamic process of change and growth. "...a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
 
Saturday (Feb. 2), Coach Nickelberry and the Bison conclude their four-game home stand with conference leader Norfolk State. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.