WASHINGTON (January 16, 2023) – Howard University sophomore guard
Elijah Hawkins (Washington) scored a team-high 15 points to lead five players in double figures as the Bison rolled to an easy 89-65 win over Morehouse College in the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Day Classic at Burr Gymnasium before an overflow crowd.
The Bison (10-10) got off to a slow start that was full of turnovers, missed free throws and missed shots from close range.
The Maroon Tigers (7-7) stayed with the Bison early on the strength of the scoring Kerry Richardson, who tallied 10 of his team's first 15 enroute to an early 15-12 lead.
Utilizing its deep bench, Howard began to wear down the visitors and went on an 18-3 tear over a four-minute stretch to open a 40-23 lead at the half. Hawkins, junior forward
Jordan Wood (San Antonio) and sophomore guard
Marcus Dockery (Washington) took turns as they combined for 16 of the 18 points.
In the second half, the Bison blew the game open with Hawkins wheeling and dealing.
The lead ballooned to 39 at the nine-minute mark of the second half. In addition to his 15 points, Hawkins dealt out six assists and grabbed seven rebounds for good measure in a little over 20 minutes of play.
"I consider myself a team leader," said Hawkins, 2021-22 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year and Preseason All-MEAC selection. "So, when we come out a little flat like we did tonight, it is my job to get us going. We just played on Saturday at Norfolk State and it was a big win for us. We started a little slow, but we responded and got things going."
Graduate forward
Kobe Dickson (Holcomb, Kan.) and second-year Bison
Bryce Harris (Brentwood, N.Y.) produced 12 points and 11 points, respectively, while Wood and Dockery added 11 points apiece.
The Howard defense forced Morehouse into 27 turnovers that it turned into 29 points.
The Maroon Tigers got a game-high 24 points from Joemel McNair and Richardson finished with 12 points.
Howard returns to conference play Saturday (Jan. 21) when it hosts Morgan State at 4 p.m. in Burr.
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at
www.HUBison.com.