WASHINGTON (December 20, 2022) - Fresh off an important road win over Harvard University Sunday (Dec. 18), the Howard University men's basketball team will be looking to make it three-in-a-row for the first time this season when it hosts Mount St. Mary's (MSM) at 2 p.m. in Burr Gymnasium. 
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
 
Bison Nation can follow the action via HBCU GO TV and/or live stats.
 
MATCHUP PREVIEW
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
 
MSM leads the all-time series, 5-1, dating back 1970.
 
The Mountaineers won last year's game (Nov. 30, 2021), 72-70, thanks to a buzz-beater by DeAndre Thomas in Emmitsburg, Md.
 
Howard's lone win came in a 20-point victory, 92-72, on Dec. 1, 1971.
 
HOWARD
 
The Bison look to use the formula in Sunday's win at Harvard against Mount St. Mary's (5-7), which comes into game having lost three of its last four, the latest a 68-59 decision to Robert Morris on the road Sunday (Dec. 18).
 
"We are trying to get to a point where this team is comfortable in what we are trying to do, in terms of identity," said Howard head coach Kenneth Blakeney after the school's first win over Harvard in seven tries. "We have something to build on."
 
MOUNT ST. MARY'S
 
MSM is led by senior guard Jalen Benjamin (16.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, team-leading 48 total assists), junior guard Dakota Leffew (11.6 ppg) and graduate forward Malik Jefferson (10.9 ppg, 7.8 rpg).
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
Howard (6-8) had its best second half performance of the season with a combined team effort of strong rebounding, stingy defense and timely scoring from several players on offense.
 
Steve Settle, III (Glenarden, Md.), team-leading scorer, did not have his usual offensive production, but his contribution on the boards, especially on the defensive end, was critical to the team's success. The 6-foot-10 redshirt junior continues to show why he is perhaps one of the best all-around players in the conference. He scored five points, almost 10 below his average, but grabbed 10 rebounds to top all players in that category.
 
On offense, the Bison got a career performance from Shy Odom, who started for only the second time this season, but proved to be a timely move as the talented forward from Chestnut Hill, Mass., set the tone for Howard early, scoring 15 of his career-high 18 points in the first half.
 
Although the game was deadlocked, 30-30, at the half, it set the tone for his teammates after intermission.
 
Graduate guard Jelani Williams (Washington), junior forward Jordan Wood (San Antonio) and sophomore guards Bryce Harris (Brentwood, N.Y.) and Elijah Hawkins (Washington) took turns scoring key baskets as they held the Crimson at bay with the lead, which they never relinquished. The quartet combined for 30 of the Bison's second half points.
 
Defensively, Howard used the length of Settle, Odom and Wood to force the Crimson into a rare poor shooting performance, especially from the three-point line (3-of-27) where they have been successful during the season.
 
"We probably played a little more zone than normal and our length seemed to be more effective," Blakeney stated after the game. "We went into the game with the plan to win the battle of points in the paint (39 points), along with the team play and rebounding."
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
 
Howard closes out the 2022 year when its hosts LaSalle University Thursday (Dec. 29) in Burr Gymnasium, live on HBCU GO TV.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.