WASHINGTON (March 19, 2019) – Howard University men's basketball team continues its season in Conway, S.C. where they will square off against Coastal Carolina (CCU) in the Roman College Basketball Invitational (CBI) Tourney First Round. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. inside the HTC Center on ESPN+.
 
Fans can also follow all the action at www.GoCCUSports.com.
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
On March 15, the Bison came up short in the 2019 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament Semifinals, losing, 75-69, to Norfolk State at Scope Arena in a highly anticipated matchup.
 
Redshirt Chad Lott (Shreveport, La.) led the team with 21 points. Sophomore RJ Cole (Union, N.J.) added 19 points, seven assists, and five rebounds.
 
Second-year forward Zion Cousins (Upper Marlboro, Md.) contributed 10 points and seven boards in the loss.
 
MATCHUP PREVIEW
 
Wednesday's showdown will be the first meeting between Howard and Coastal Carolina.
 
HOWARD
 
Howard (17-16, 10-6 MEAC) enters the field playing in their first postseason tournament since 1992, the same season they won the MEAC Title. Also, the Bison are seeking their first postseason victory since reclassifying as a NCAA Division I affiliate.
 
"I'm happy for this team," said Howard men's basketball head coach Kevin Nickelberry after accepting the invite to the 2019 Roman CBI Tournament. "Our student-athletes get an opportunity to be rewarded for their efforts this year and get a chance to participate in the postseason."
 
Currently, the Bison are riding an eight-game road winning streak after going perfect away from The Burr in league play.
 
Howard is led by the trio of Cole, Lott and junior Charles Williams (Richmond, Va.).
 
Cole was selected 2018-19 MEAC Player of the Year. Cole and Williams earned a spot on the All-MEAC First Team while Lott landed on the league's Third Team.
 
COASTAL CAROLINA
 
CCU enters with a 15-16 overall record after placing sixth in the Sun Belt Conference. Zac Cuthbertson, Second Team All-Sun Belt, and DeVante Jones, 2018-19 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year, spearhead the Chanticleers.
 
"They like to get out in transition," Nickelberry stated. "We must slow down their transition offense and limit their second chance points."
 
This is the 10^th post-season national appearance in the history of the CCU program. Coastal Carolina made their first appearance in the CBI following the 2017 season where they went on to finish as the runners-up in the event.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
 
With the victory, HU advances to the Roman CBI Tourney Quarterfinals where they will await the winner of West Virginia and Grand Canyon. The action takes place Monday (March 25), but time to be determined.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.