WASHINGTON (January 15, 2023) – Fresh off a thrilling and bizarre 86-84 win at Norfolk State Saturday (Jan. 14), the Howard University men's basketball team will be looking to win its second straight when it hosts Morehouse College Monday (Jan. 16) in the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Day Classic. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. in Burr Gymnasium.
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
 
Monday's contest will be televised live on FS1 and live stats will be available.
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
In the game against Norfolk State, the Bison (9-10, 2-1 in the MEAC) appeared to be heading for their second straight conference loss when the Spartans' Joe Bryant, Jr., scored with a second remaining on the clock to put his team up, 84-83. In the celebration, NSU was assessed a technical foul for running onto the court. It marked the second time during the game as the Spartans had received a warning.
 
Sophomore guard Elijah Hawkins (Washington) went to the line and calmly sank the two free throws to give HU the lead at 85-84 with less than a second on the clock. Hawkins had his usual steady all-around game with 13 points, eight assists and four steals in the comeback win.
 
Fellow D.C. native Jelani Williams was fouled moments later and the graduate guard converted on one-of-two attempts to close out the scoring and help the Bison snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and end the Spartans' 19-game home win streak.
 
Williams came off the bench and made some crucial plays during the Howard comeback that included back-to-back three-point plays, the first a field goal and the second, a conventional and one that tied the game at 82.
 
While made what would prove to be the deciding points, it was the play of their teammates sophomore guard Marcus Dockery (Washington), freshman forward Shy Odom (Chestnut Hill, Mass.) and redshirt junior Steve Settle, III (Glenarden, Md.) that all played a part.
 
Dockery, a 6-foot-2 transfer from Maryland, kept the Bison in it when they trailed by as many as 16 in the game. The sharpshooter finished with a career and game-high 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 7-of-11 from outside the arc.
 
Odom, a 6-foot-6 newcomer and leading candidate for league Rookie of the Year, overcame a week-long illness to contribute 15 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots in 22 productive minutes.
 
And then there was Settle, who continues to display skills that contribute to the team's growth. The 6-foot-10 wing scored 14 quiet points and helped the second half defense by recording a career-high five steals.
 
MATCHUP PREVIEW
 
Monday's showdown will be the first meeting between the two institutions since the 1996-97 season. Morehouse won the previous bout inside The Burr in OT, 81-79 (Nov. 30, 1996).
 
HOWARD
 
Odom has scored in double figures four-out-of-the-last five games since being inserted into the starting lineup.
 
Hawkins leads the team in scoring (13.1 ppg), three-point shooting percentage (41-percent), total assists (73) and tied for total steals (28).
 
Settle is second on the team in scoring (11.7 ppg) while leading the team in rebounds (6.1 rpg).
 
Williams is perhaps the team's most consistent player, averaging 9.4 ppg and 4.0 rpg, 41 total assists for second on the team to Hawkins and second in steals (26).
 
Junior forward Jordan Wood (San Antonio) leads the team in three pointers made (34).
 
As a team, the Bison are shooting a respectable 74-percent from the charity stripe.
 
MOREHOUSE
 
Morehouse (7-6) is coming off a 63-60 home win over Savannah State Saturday (Jan. 14).
 
The Maroon Tigers are led by junior forward Kerry Richardson (16.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg), sophomore Nate Lacewell (8.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg), freshman guard Robert Dix (7.0 ppg) and sophomore center Mohamed Diallo (21 total blocked shots).
 
"Typically, teams are caught up in big wins, especially conference play," notes Howard Head Coach Kenneth Blakeney. "We have a lot going on (with MLK, Jr. activities), but we still have to focus and not have a letdown in Monday's game. Championship teams avoid those kinds of letdowns."
 
NEXT UP
 
The Bison face yet another tough opponent in Beltway rival Morgan State Saturday (Jan. 21) at 4 p.m. at Burr Gymnasium.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.