DURHAM, N.C. -- Turnovers and a deep North Carolina Central University bench proved to much as the Howard University Bison fell 80-65, in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) action to the Eagles, Monday night at the McDougald-McLendon Arena.


The Bison stampeded out the gates knocking down their first two shots and a pair of free throws taking an early 10-3 lead.


The game slowed down for both squads as both teams went scoreless over three minutes, combining to shoot 2-of-11 in that span.


The Eagles caught fire after the 14-minute mark recording a 21-6 run and forcing four Bison turnovers to grab a 24-19 lead with five minutes remaining in the first half.


HU and NCCU traded jabs the rest of the way, with the Eagles taking a 34-27 lead into intermission.


The Bison continued to go toe-to-toe with the Eagles after the break as the two teams combined to score 31 points in the first five minutes into the second half.


The Eagles drained eight three-pointers in the second half. Howard committed nine second-half turnovers.  


The lack of bench depth caught up to Howard, as the Eagles put the game away using a 15-4 run to take a 78-53 lead, with 4:30 left in regulation.


Howard put up a fight in the waning minutes grinding out a 12-2 run to close out the contest.


Senior Charles Williams led all scorers recording a game-high 22-points. Freshman Wayne Bristol Jr. recorded 11 points and a team-high six rebounds. Phillip Jones recorded a career-high seven assists.


UP NEXT:


Howard will close out February and their final road game of the season in Norfolk, Virginia to take on the Norfolk State University Spartans, at 6:30 p.m. Sat., Feb. 29.