Boxscore

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Dadrian Collins scored a team-high 18 points and Calvin Thompson and Curtis White added 13 and 10, respectively to lead Howard University to a 67-64 win over Bethune-Cookman University in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men's game at Burr Gymnasium.

Collins, the MEAC Rookie of the Week, got the Bison rolling by scoring 11 points in the first 20 minutes.  The 6-5 freshman forward did most of his damage from beyond the arc, connecting on 3 of 4.

Collins got help from his teammates as the Bison (6-15 overall, 5-2 in the MEAC) rolled to a 37-16 lead at the half.  White and Thompson each added six to the cause as Howard shot 50 percent from the field.  Forward Adam Walker, who was in his second game after missing most of the season with illness, came up with a solid contribution of 7 points and 5 rebounds.

"We played well tonight," said Howard Coach Gil Jackson.  "We executed the game plan and made the shots we needed to make."

"He continued, "Dadrian has been shooting the ball well and rebounding well.  He has been a pleasant surprise.  As for Adam, we did not think that we would get this much from him this soon.  It was definitely a plus."

The Wildcats (12-8 overall, 5-2 in the MEAC) had problems scoring and experienced some cold shooting, hitting on only 28 percent (6 of 21) of their shots in the first half.

But it turned into a tale of two halves as Bethune-Cookman fought and scrapped its way back into the game on the scoring of their team leader, C.J. Reed, who tallied 16 of his game-high 20 points in the second half and Jarrell Thomas and Javoris Bryant, who combined for 20 points after the break.

What was once a seemingly 27-point lead, was whittled to three with time still remaining on the clock.  Then Thompson, Collins and White all knocked down free throws to help the Bison hold on for the win.

"We need to learn how to close out these games," said Coach Jackson.  "Bethune-Cookman played like they had nothing to lose and we helped them with some bad possessions."

Bethune-Cookman shot 56 percent (20 of 36) in the second half and its bench outscored their counterparts, 28-6 in the final stanza.  Thomas and Bryant each scored 13 in a losing cause

NEXT UP: BCU hosts South Carolina State next Saturday at 4 pm while the Bison travel to Princess Anne, MD to take on the Hawks of Maryland Eastern Shore at 4 pm, also on Saturday.