WASHINGTON (December 17, 2024) – Senior guard Marcus Dockery (Washington) scored 11 of his team-high 14 points and fellow D.C. native Blake Harper added seven of his 11 points after intermission, but it was not enough as the Howard University men's basketball team dropped a 68-65 decision to Drexel University in a nonconference matchup at Burr Gymnasium.
 
The loss snapped a two-game win streak for the Bison, who are now 5-7 overall.
 
The two teams went back-and-forth in the first 20 minutes as they exchanged runs. Drexel was able to get a 36-34 advantage, primality on the balanced scoring, led by Yame Butler and Jason Drake, who combined for 19 of their team's points.
 
The Bison were able to tie the game on a Joshua Strong (Minneapolis) basket to start the second half.
 
Then, the Dragons reeled off a 13-2 run over a five-minute stretch to open an 11-point lead, the largest of the game. The run put Howard in a hole at 49-38 at the 13:08 mark, but the resilient Bison answered with a run of their own to tie the game, 52-52, with 7:28 remaining. From that point, the two teams traded baskets and free throws, neither leading by more than a basket.  There were seven ties and six lead changes.
 
Down the stretch, it was Drake, who scored his team's last eight, including two clutch free throws with 3.5 seconds that secured the win for Drexell (8-4).
 
The Bison still had a chance but a three-point attempt by graduate forward Cameron Shockley-Okeke (Norwalk, Conn.) just missed and the visitors escaped with a hard-fought victory.
 
Dockery scored his 1,000^th point in his career at the 4:38 mark of the second half.
 
Okeke scored 10 points off the bench and Harper finished with 11 points, nine rebounds and five assists in a losing cause.
 
The Bison had an efficient game, recording 19 assists on 25 made baskets. They also had an advantage on points in the paint (36-24) and second chance points (15-7).
 
Drexel was led by Drake, who led all scorers with a career-high 21 points. Butler followed with 16 points and Cole Hargrove contributed six points and a game-high six rebounds.
 
NEXT UP:  Howard travels to Hampton, Va., to take on Hampton University in the CBS HBCU Battle of the Real HU at 3 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.