WASHINGTON (January 3, 2019) – After 14 nonconference games, the Howard University Men's Basketball team begin Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play with a pair of contests over the weekend.
 
Saturday (Jan. 5), HU hosts Florida A&M (FAMU) inside Burr Gymnasium while visiting Maryland Eastern Shore Monday (Jan. 7). Saturday's tip-off is set for 4 p.m. and Monday's start time is 7:30 p.m. at the William P. Hytche Athletic Center.

Before Saturday's showdown with the Rattlers, sophomore RJ Cole (Union, N.J.) will be recognized for reaching the 1,000-point club, back on Dec. 16.
 
Fans can follow all the action at www.HUBison.com.
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
On Dec. 29, the Bison were unable to find its rhythm as they fell to crosstown foe Georgetown (GU), 102-67, inside the Capital One arena.
 
Howard's backcourt of Cole and junior Charles Williams (Richmond, Va.) combined for 52 points, but the team overall only shot 33-percent (25-of-75) on the day.
 
Second-year forward Zion Cousins (Upper Marlboro, Md.) finished with eight points and eight boards despite early foul trouble.
 
MATCHUP PREVIEWS
 
HOWARD
 
HU (6-8) enters league play looking to snap its longest skid of the year at five games. Howard began the season 6-3, but the injury bug has hindered the club recently.
 
"It's a new season for everybody," said Howard Men's Basketball head coach Kevin Nickelberry. "There's three seasons [preseason, regular season, and postseason] and we've had to make some adjustments due to injuries. But hopefully, we can get some guys back."
 
Last outing at Georgetown, Howard had four Bison sit due to injury, including redshirt junior Chad Lott (Shreveport, La.) and freshman Andre Toure (Paris, France). Both, Lott and Toure, missed their third straight game in the lost against GU.
 
"Our goal is to get back to the team we were during the preseason and first part of the [regular] season," Nickelberry added. "This weekend will help us built towards that. Once we get guys back on the floor, we'll work them back [in the rotation]."
 
With Bison returning to the rotation, Coach Nickelberry's squad will have more depth coming off the bench.
 
"We must get some guys to step up [in order to win]," Nickelberry continued. "We must execute and get some production from the bench. We must play our tempo and get back to Howard basketball."
 
Although Howard tops the conference in scoring (81.6 ppg), HU has allowed 82.6 points per game. In order to start league play strong, the Bison must clamp down on the defensive end.
 
"We have to get back defensively," Nickelberry concluded. "We're young, but we've played 14 games [this season]. Offense comes easy [to young players], but Florida A&M and Maryland Eastern Shore know what we want to do."
 
FLORIDA A&M
 
FAMU (3-12) comes in looking to break its five-game losing streak. Saturday will be the Rattlers' 12^th game away from the Lawson Center (1-10) with their lone road win coming at Jacksonville, 65-50. Justin Ravenel leads the club in scoring (13.8 ppg).
 
A year ago, Florida A&M took two-out-of-three from HU, including a bout in the MEAC First Round in Norfolk, Va.
 
MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE
 
After a road trip to Morgan State (Jan. 5), Maryland Eastern Shore (2-13) comes home where Howard awaits. Currently, the squad is 2-2 inside the Hytche Center with both wins coming against Central Penn, 77-52, and Chestnut Hill, 68-62. AJ Cheeseman (12.5 ppg) and Ryan Andino (11.3 ppg) spearhead the Hawks scoring attack.
 
Last season, Howard swept Maryland Eastern Shore and holds a five-game winning streak against the Hawks.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
 
Howard returns to D.C. for a pair of matchups inside The Burr.
 
Saturday (Jan. 12), the Bison challenge MEAC Preseason Favorite Bethune-Cookman. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m.
 
Two days later (Jan. 14), HU squares off against the Morgan State Bears. Game-time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.