Nickelberry, Howard University Men's Basketball Unveil 2018-19 Non-Conference Schedule

HU ROSTER 2018-19

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the anticipated college basketball season approaching, coach Kevin Nickelberry and the Howard University men's basketball team unveiled their 15-game non-conference slate, featuring five matchups inside Burr Gymnasium. The announcement came Wednesday evening.
 
"We put together a schedule that fits our team," said Nickelberry. "We have first team all-conference guys in CJ [Charles] Williams and RJ Cole. We have a talented transfer from Rice [Chad Lott] who has a chance to play for us this year, along with exciting freshmen. Our slogan this year is #OurTime and with the talented recruiting class coming in, we feel like it's our time to move up in the conference standings."
 
After opening the season with three consecutive home contests inside of Burr against Washington Adventist (Nov. 7), Central Penn (Nov. 11), and Regent (Nov. 13), Howard begins a five-game road swing at UMass (Nov. 19) before squaring off against Southern Illinois (Nov. 19), who finished 20-13 a year ago.
 
On Nov. 23, HU takes on Little Rock as part of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic where the Bison's next opponent will be either Arkansas Pine-Bluff or Cal Baptist (Nov. 24).
 
Howard tips off December with Appalachian State (Dec. 4) before returning to "The Mecca" to face crosstown foe American (Dec. 8).
 
After their clash with the Eagles, HU hits the road again for a trio of tough matchups at George Washington (Dec. 14), Fordham (Dec. 16), and Ball State (Dec. 20).
 
Christmas will come early for fans. On Dec. 22, Howard renews its rivalry with Hampton for the next installment of the "Battle of the Real HU" inside the new D.C. Sports Complex.
 
"It's exciting to continue our rivalry with Hampton," Nickelberry commented. "We're looking forward to it."
 
Before the Bison close out 2018, they meet Patrick Ewing and the revamped Georgetown Hoyas inside the Capital One Arena.
 
In the middle of the competitive conference schedule, Howard wraps up its non-conference slate with a talented Harvard squad, who finished 18-14 overall during the 2017-18 campaign.
 
"We have some marquee games [this year]," Nickelberry added. "We can compete in those games and [we will] see where we stand against very talented teams like Southern Illinois, Georgetown, and Harvard."
 
This season, junior Charles Williams (Richmond, Va.) and sophomore RJ Cole (Union, N.J.) spearhead the Bison attack, combining for more than 44 points per game a year ago while garnering All-Conference First Team accolades.
 
Howard's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) schedule begins January 2019.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.

Derek W. Bryant, Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations 
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