WASHINGTON (November 11, 2024) – Senior guard Marcus Dockery (Washington) scored a game-high 23 points to lead four Bison in double figures as the Howard University men's basketball team defeated Dillard (La.), 91-73, in a nonconference game at Burr Gymnasium.
 
It was the Bison's first win of the season after dropping decisions at No. 1 Kansas and Missouri.
 
Howard (1-2) bolted out to the early lead as Dockery and fellow guard Joshua Strong (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) combined for 22 of their team's points to give the Bison a comfortable 52-34 lead at intermission.
 
Dockery, a member of the back-to-back MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Tournament title teams, hit on 2-of-5 from behind the arc and Strong got 12 points while going a perfect 4-of-4 from downtown.
 
In the second half, the Bison maintained a double-digit lead through the first 10 minutes. Then, the Bleu Devils, a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), put together a 9-2 run over a three-minute stretch to cut the deficit to a manageable 10 points, 73-63, at the 8:10 mark. The scrappy team from Louisiana was led by Bentravin Phillips and Armond Willaims, who combined for 10 second half points.
 
The Bison responded with a 13-5 run over a 2:33 stretch, fueled by senior guard Bryce Harris (Brentwood, N.Y.), freshman guard Blake Harper (Washington) and junior forward Dom Campbell (Scarborough, Maine) for all 13 points.
 
For the game, the Bison shot a sizzling 47-percent from three (15-of-34) with 10 players scoring. Howard was credited with 24 assists on 29 made baskets.
 
Strong finished with a career-high 15 points. Harper, who continues to shine as a first-year player, filled the stats box again with 12 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.  Harris, the MEAC Preseason Player of the Year, recorded yet another double-double (11 points & 11 rebounds) in the victory.
 
Dillard (3-1) placed four Bleu Devils in double figures, led by Phillips with 18 points. Williams and Khalif Aliim, each with 11 points and Justin Warren added 10 points in the loss.
 
NEXT UP:  Howard travels to Atlanta to take on the Tigers of Tennessee State Wednesday (Nov. 13) in the HBCU All-Star Challenge. Tipoff is 7 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.