WASHINGTON (December 29, 2022) – Howard University freshman Shy Odom (Chestnut Hill, Mass.) scored a career-high 22 points and second-year Bison Elijah Hawkins (Washington) added 20 points, but it was not enough to offset some hot shooting, foul trouble and key missed free throws as HU fell to La Salle University, 80-76, at Burr Gymnasium.
 
The loss snapped a three-game win streak for the Bison.
 
The game was a nip-and-tuck affair that featured nine ties and six lead changes. The first half was deadlocked at 29 as both teams struggled to find some offensive rhythm.
 
In the second period, the Explorers (6-7) changed all of that, led by guard Khalil Brantley knocking down four straight triples to help push the La Salle lead to as many as nine at the 7:28 mark.
 
The Bison (7-9) then turned to Odom, three-time Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Rookie of the Week, and he delivered by scoring 8-of-9 from the field to make it a game.
 
The problem for Howard was foul trouble. Redshirt junior Steve Settle, III (Glenarden, Md.), the team's second leading, got into early foul trouble. Odom did as well and eventually fouled out.
 
Hawkins was able to pick up the scoring slack with 15 of his points after intermission, including 10-of-his-team's last 14 points.
 
Howard had chances, but Brantley and his teammates did just enough at the charity stripe to escape with the victory. Brantley was 10-of-12 from the free throw line, including seven in a row in the last three minutes.
 
Odom added five rebounds and a pair of blocks to his stat sheet while Hawkins contributed four assists and four rebounds. 
 
Settle and reserve Kobe Dickson (Holcomb, Kan.) both scored 10 points for the Bison.
 
Brantley led all scorers with 24 points while reserve Anwar Gill tallied 18 points off the bench.
 
Howard opens MEAC play Saturday (January 7) when they host Delaware State at 4 p.m. in Burr Gymnasium.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.