WASHINGTON (January 27, 2023) - The Howard University men's basketball team will look to continue its current win streak alive when it hosts North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in a Mid-Eastern Athletic (MEAC) showdown Saturday (Jan. 28) in Burr Gymnasium. The game is scheduled to tip off at 6 p.m., aired on ESPNU.
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
 
Bison Nation can follow all the action on ESPNU and live stats will be available.
 
Tickets are still available and fans can purchase tickets here.
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
Monday (Jan. 23), the Bison (12-10, 4-1 MEAC) again displayed their depth and balance: four players finished in double figures, led by sophomore guard Marcus Dockery (14 points off the bench), redshirt junior forward Steve Settle, III (14 points & seven rebounds), second-year Bison guards Elijah Hawkins (13 points, six assists & zero turnovers) and Bryce Harris (11 points & seven rebounds), graduate guard Jelani Williams (career-high 10 rebounds) and freshman forward Shy Odom (nine points & six rebounds).
 
"This is the kind of way that I envisioned," said Howard Head Coach Kenneth Blakeney. "To have what I like to refer to as position-less players works for us. We have a second unit that is filled with experienced veterans, so when they sub in, there is not a drop off."
 
That successful formula made it possible for the Bison to score 40 points in the paint and 33 points from its reserves. It is also important to note that Howard has averaged almost 85 points during the current win streak.
 
"Our rebounding has improved of late," notes Blakeney. " We are doing a much better job.  We may not always win the rebounding battle, but the improvement in that area has allowed us to be more effective."
 
This season, HU has outrebounded the opposition 13 times and currently owns an 11-2 mark in those contests.
 
MATCHUP PREVIEW
 
SERIES RECORD
 
Howard has won two-in-a-row, including a 77-67 home win a year ago (Feb. 26, 2022). Since 2013, the Eagles lead the series, 9-4.
 
HOWARD
 
Entering the weekend, Howard ranks second in the MEAC with a 73-percent free throw percentage and third in three-point shooting (35-percent) and three pointers made (7.4).
 
Individually, Hawkins leads the conference in assists (5.4 apg) while ranking among the league leaders in free throwing shooting (81-percent/3^rd), assist/turnover ratio (4^th), scoring (12.9 ppg/7^th) and three-pointers made (9^th).
 
Settle is the top free throw shooter in the conference (84-percent) while sitting sixth in rebounding (5.7 rpg) and seventh in total blocked shots (15).
 
Dockery and Wood are fourth and fifth in three-pointers made, respectively.
 
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL
 
It will take that consistency against a veteran NCCU (10-9, 3-2 MEAC) team that had its three-game win streak snapped in a 59-58 heartbreaking loss to surprising Maryland Eastern Shore Monday (Jan. 23).
 
The Eagles are led by junior guard Justin Wright (17.5 points per game), redshirt senior forward Kris Monroe (5.1 rebounds per game), graduate center Chris Medley-Bacon (5.5 rpg, leads the MEAC in total blocked shots) and senior guard Eric Boone (5.2 assists per game).
 
The Eagles lead the MEAC in scoring defense (66.0 points per game allowed) and field goal shooting (48-percent) while ranking second in scoring (77.0 points per game), three-point shooting (37-percent), assists (15.3 apg) and three pointers made per game (7.7).
 
Individually, Wright is fifth in scoring (17.5 ppg) and seventh in free throw shooting (71-percent). 
 
Monroe is seventh in rebounding (5.1 rpg).
 
Medley-Bacon leads the MEAC in total blocked shots and sixth in rebounding (5.5 rpg).
 
Boone is second in assists and assists/turnover ratio and fifth in free throw shooting (79-percent).
 
NEXT UP
 
The Bison close out their four-game home stand Monday (Jan. 30) when they host South Carolina State at 7:30 p.m. at The Burr.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.