Howard chalks two W’s versus FAMU

Ron Bailey, Publisher

Bison make it happen against FAMU.

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February 12, 2012 - Saturday, the Howard University men’s and women’ teams advanced their records to 7-18 overall, 4-8 in the MEAC, and 18-7/10-2, respectively, via victories over Florida A&M University. The FAMU Rattlers men now stand, 7-18/4-8, women 17-6/10-1.

How did the Lady Bison hand FAMU’s Rattlerette’s their first conference loss with a stirring 68-61 victory? Primarily via a defensive switch at intermission.

Tamoria Hines, taking the ball to the cup.

“That’s pretty much what it was” said Lady Bison head coach Niki Reid Geckeler of whether her change to a sagging man defense was key, as it chocked off the drive and drop opportunities FAMU feasted upon in the first half. “(We) Stopped penetration and controlled the lane”.

Tamoria Hines led HU with 21 points, followed by 13 points apiece from Saadia Doyle and Kara Smith. Zykia Brown provided 12 points. The Lady Bison shot 39% from the field, slightly over 33% from three point land.

Hines on how she got that work done, which include driving to the cup aggressively: “I was able to drive in the second half, and when I didn’t have the shot dropped off to my teammates. When the shot wasn’t made, they got the rebound”.

FAMU, which shot 47.2% overall, 35.7% from beyond the arch, was done in by 23 turnovers to only 13 by HU – a product of Howard’s defensive switch.

Alphonso Leary is seen here stopping and walling off an Amin Stevens drive.

HU’s men ironcially, responded favorably to a FAMU defensive change at intermission; the Rattlers started picking up full court man to man, and using Amin Stevens (24 points, eight rebounds) as almost a rover back, doubling the ball handler upon the catch. At the final buzzer, the scoreboard read HU 71, FAMU 69.

Head coach Kevin Nickelberry’s response: “We brought in another point guard in Calvin Thompson, and that took away their ability to trap”. Thompson did just that enroute to 15 points, despite committing six turnovers. The in-game chess move erased a 14-2 Rattler run after intermission.

Prince Okoroh rounded out Howard’s double digit scoring at 10 points. The Bison shot 47.1% of all shots, while connecting on 42.9% on three pointers.

Stevens was the only Rattler in double figures, though the trio of Reggie Lewis, Jeremy Dean and Nathaniel Drayton notched eight each. FAMU sank only 12.5% of their three point shots, and converted 35.7% of all attempts.

Up next for both of Howard’s teams is Bethune Cookman on Monday. The ladies tip at 5:30p, men start playing at 7:30p.

FAMU is off until the 18th, when both teams travel to Savannah State.