Boxscore

MURFREESBORO, TENN. - James Gallman came off the bench to score a team-high 14 points to lead four players ion double figures as Middle Tennessee State defeated Howard University, 69-51 in a non-conference men's basketball game at The Murphy Center.

Gallman connected on 5-of-8 from the field, including 2-of-3 from three-point range in 20 minutes of play to help Middle Tennessee State (5-6) bolt out to an early lead.  Gallman got help from Trevor Ottley, who also came off the bench to tally 10.  Desmond Yates and Montarrio Haddock added 13 and 11, respectively.

The Bison (1-10) had problems scoring again and managed only 14 points on 5 of 18 shooting from the field for 28 percent in the first half.  After trailing by as much as 33 in the second half, Howard rallied to get within 16 at one point on the scoring of Calvin Thompson, who scored 12 of his game-high 15 after intermission and Mike Phillips, who contributed 10 of his 12.  But the Bison had too big of a hole to dig out of and MTSU put the game away with a couple of key baskets down the stretch.

The Bison got some inspired play from freshman center Charles DeCosta, who scored seven points and grabbed four rebounds in 19 minutes of play.

NEXT UP: Howard returns to action on December 29 when it takes on Stephen F. Austin in the first round of the Shamrock Classic in Moraga, Calif.