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| (LEFT) PRINCE OKOROH AND (RIGHT) JAMES DANIEL Courtesy HOWARD UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS |
A 5-11 freshman guard from Hampton, VA, Daniel scored eight of his points during a key two-minute stretch that saw Howard pull away after The Shoremen had mounted a NIEcomeback. The sharpshooter canned two three pointers and converted on two free throws during a two-minute stretch that gave his team the lead for good at 44-36.
Okoroh, the only returning starter for the young Bison, who feature 10 new players on the roster, kept the visitors at bay with some steals and breakaway dunks.
"We got after them early," said Howard Coach Kevin Nickelberry, in his fourth year at the helm. "It's still a work in progress. We created a lot of pressure. When we come out with that much energy, it creates positive outcomes. The more we learn to play the Frantic 40 system, the better we will get offensively."
The Bison came out of the blocks applying full-court pressure and went to their bench early and often. But Washington College (0-1) was able to stay close on the three-point shooting of Sean Flanagan (team-high 18 points).
Howard was able to get some distance at the end of the first half as Marcel Boyd and Ausar Madison were able to contribute. The Bison led 32-25 at the half.
Howard began to turn the ball over early in the second half and the Shoremen were able to take advantage when Sean Brooks and Bryan Shapiro combined to help them tie the game.
But from there, the Bison pressure and the scoring combination of Daniel and Okoroh proved to be the difference.
"It's a game of runs," said Nickelberry. "All we had to do was be consistent with the press and cause turnovers. We knew they were going to make threes, but we thought if we could turn them over enough, that would be what we needed to win the game.
It's hard pressing for 40 minutes, but we have five guys who well together."
Okoroh finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and a career-high seven steals, three of which he turned into dunks.
"The Frantic 40 system is set up to speed up the game and create havoc," said Okoroh. "We were able to use our athleticism and youth to our advantage. We were able to capitalize on that tonight by getting ball pressure and reading the passing lanes."
The Bison got an outstanding floor game from freshman point guard Madison, who handed out seven assists while scoring six points in 34 minutes of play.
Marcel Boyd, a red-shirt freshman came off the bench to score eight points and grab eight rebounds in 17 minutes of play.
The Bison host Gwynedd Mercy College on Sunday at 5 pm.
COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
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