EL PASO, Texas (December 21, 2017) – After a tough road loss at Jacksonville State, Coach Kevin Nickelberry and the Howard University Men's Basketball team were unable to find a rhythm as they lost to UTEP, 69-56, at the Weststar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational.
 
For the third consecutive game, HU (2-12) outrebounded their opponent, 44-40; however, shot only 31-percent (19-of-61) from the floor. Additionally, Howard took 11 attempts at the charity stripe while the Miners more than doubled that total with 24 tries.
 
"Not a great start for us tonight, but the guys battled back" said Nickelberry. "They [UTEP] did a great job crowding the paint and making us kick the ball out for our big guys take shots. We just didn't do a good job shooting the ball tonight."
 
Freshman RJ Cole led the Bison with 17 points and a career-high eight boards. Sophomore Charles Williams added 12 points and six rebounds in a losing effort.
 
Within a minute after intermission, UTEP's Omega Harris drilled a trey ball and gave the Miners a double-digit advantage, 40-30. Two minutes later, Williams made a jumper and trimmed the margin down to single-digits, 41-32.
 
Over the next 10 minutes, HU could find their rhythm as they shot only 32-percent (8-of-25) in the period; thus, the Miners capitalized and ballooned their lead as much as 20 points, 65-45, with more than five minutes left. Howard finished the contest strong, going on an 11-4 run in the final five minutes.
 
Rookie Zion Cousins pulled down a career-best 12 boards before fouling out.
 
Nearly midway through the first half, UTEP held an 18-point advantage after a long ball from Keith Frazier, 22-4.
 
Howard gradually chipped away at the deficit. With less than two minutes before halftime, Cole made a three-pointer and cut the margin down to single-digits, 33-26. At the break, HU trailed by seven, 37-30.
 
For UTEP (5-6), they have won four straight after starting the season 1-6 overall. Frazier had a game-high 23 points while Harris and Tirus Smith chipped in 17 points apiece in the victory.
 
Howard meets UNC-Wilmington in the consolation game Friday night. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. (ET) / 5 p.m. (MT).
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.