Howard Wins Second Straight With Balanced Scoring

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Washington, DC, February 25—Darryl Hudson came off the bench to score 18 points and lead five players in double figures as Howard University defeated Coppin State University, 81-66 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men’s game at Burr Gymnasium.  The win was the second straight for the Bison (4-20 overall, 3-12 in the MEAC), who had not won back-to-back games since December of 2004.

            The game was a carbon copy of Howard’s previous win against Florida A&M on Monday when it jumped out to a comfortable early lead and never allowed their opponent to get within single digits.  The Bison led, 38-21 at the half.

            “We’re getting off to good starts because we are shooting the basketball better,” said Howard first-year Coach Gil Jackson.  “We are beginning to understand what it takes to win basketball games.  We are about 60 to 70 percent there, so we still have a ways to go.  But there is improvement.”
            Howard made sure that the Eagles (11-16 overall, 11-5 in the MEAC) would not get close in the second half as it shot a sizzling 63 percent (12 of 19) from the field, including 5 of 6 from beyond the arc.  Darek Mitchell (12 points), Will Gant (11 points) and Louis Ford (17 points) combined for 11 three pointers among them.

            “This is the best that Louie (Ford) has shot the ball in some time,” explained Jackson.  “He did a better job of game management and that is something we have talked about.”

            Added Ford, “I don’t usually shoot the ball that much, but Coach has told me to be a little more aggressive on the offensive end.  It helped that the shots fell.”  Ford finished with 9 assists and zero turnovers.

            Hudson, the team’s leading scorer, came out of a four-game slump and recorded a double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds).

            Coppin State, which is in second place in the standings, dropped its second straight game.  Sophomore Tywain McKee, the leading candidate for MEAC Rookie of the Year honors, led all scorers with 19 while sophomore forward Darryl Proctor (Paul VI HS), last year’s Rookie of the Year, added 18 and 9 rebounds.

GAME NOTES: The 63 percent from the field in the first half by the Bison was their best effort of the season…Howard recorded 17 assists on 24 baskets…Stanley Greene failed to score, but he blocked three shots…Jason Trotter made a solid contribution with 9 rebounds.

NEXT UP:  The Eagles travel to Princess Anne, MD to take on the Hawks of Maryland Eastern Shore at 7:30 p.m. while the Bison close out the hone regular season against the Bears of Morgan State…That game will have a late tipoff at 8:30 p.m. because Ford and James McBryde, the two seniors on the team, will be honored in pre-game ceremonies.

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Head Men's Basketball Coach
Gil Jackson