WASHINGTON, DC --- Playing without its leading scorer, the Howard University men's basketball team hustled and scrapped its way into a competitive game, but in the end the Bison could not offset the second half inside-outside combination of Zena Edosomwan and Patrick Steeves, who combined for 25 of their team's second half points as Harvard defeated Howard, 69-61 in a non-conference game at Burr Gymnasium.
The Bison (8-10) learned before the game that NCAA scoring leader James "J-Byrd" Daniel, III, would not be playing due to an injured shoulder. It had an immediate impact as the Crimson (9-8) pulled out to an early 22-15 lead. Howard eventually settled in and got some much-needed scoring from junior guard
Damon Collins and junior center
Marcel Boyd, who combined for 12 of their team's points during a 12-4 run to close out the half and give the Bison a 27-26 lead at intermission.
The two teams went back and forth, with five lead changes and four ties over the first 12 minutes of the second half. Then the Crimson took over, reeling off an 11-0 run during four-minute stretch that opened a 58-47 lead at the 4:14 mark and all but put the game away. The spurt was led by Steeves, Tommy McCarthy and Corbin Miller, who teamed up to scored all of the points in the stretch.
The Bison had to play uphill from there as they tried to rally.
Dalique Mingo, Boyd and Collins did all they could to put a dent into the deficit, but the Crimson were able hit on 7-of-9 from the free throw line down the stretch to put the game away.
The final outcome boiled down to three factors: the inside play of Edosomwan, the three-point shooting of Steeves & Co. and dominance on the boards. Edosomwan proved to be a problem in the second half with his power play. Harvard, which came into the game shooting over 40 percent from beyond the arc, hit on 6-of-12 in the second stanza, 12-of-23 overall and the Crimson held a whopping 45-28 advantage in rebounding. Edosomwan added a game-high 15 rebounds.
Despite missing the 29 points per game from Daniel and the absence of two other starters in James "JT" Miller and Solomon "Solo" Mangham, who combine for almost 25 points between them, Howard got a gritty performance from Mingo,
Keon Hill, Boyd and Collins. Mingo scored 14 points, grabbed five rebounds and recorded a career-high six steals. Hill, who started in place of Daniel, scored 10 points and dealt out four assists. Boyd, who continues to show marked improvement, tallied 13 points and Collins chipped in 14 points and six rebounds.
As important as the offensive contributions was the Bison's defensive performance, one that kept Howard in the game as they forced 25 turnovers.
NEXT UPHoward travels to Dover, DE to take on the Hornets of Delaware State on Wednesday at 4 pm. The game, which was suspended last Monday due to a clock malfunction, will be resumed from the 15:41 mark of the second half with the Bison leading, 41-38.
