Howard University men’s basketball team has already lost several players to injuries this season, including team captain Calvin Thompson. They would lose yet another major contributor on Valentine’s Day as leading scorer and rebounder Mike Phillips missed the entire second half of a 76-68 loss to Norfolk State (8-16 overall, 6-6 in the MEAC) in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men’s game at Echols Hall in Norfolk, Va.
According to Howard sports information, Phillips had already scored half his average of 14 points per game and was getting into a rhythm offensively in the first half when he suddenly limped to the bench with an ankle injury.
Howard sports information says the 6-foot-7-inch sophomore native of Fredericksburg, Va., received treatment at halftime and apparently tested out the ankle on the court, but head coach Kevin Nickelberry didn’t want to risk further injury.
Howard men’s squad (5-20 overall, 3-9 in the MEAC) has now lost two straight games and will return to action on Feb. 19 in a home game against Florida A&M University.
Meanwhile, Howard women’s basketball team advanced to an 11-15 overall record – 7-5 MEAC – thanks to redshirt sophomore Saadia Doyle who scored a double-double of 38 points with 10 rebounds to help the Lady Bison dominate the Norfolk State Lady Spartans, 66-49, on Feb. 14.
Howard started the game with a 7-0 run and never looked back. Doyle’s career-high performance boosted the Lady Bison’s total field goal percentage to 45. Tamoria Holmes was the only other player to score double-digit points for Howard with 11 points and five rebounds. The Lady Bison will see its next action on Feb. 19 when they host their annual Pink Zone initiative with a game against FAMU at 2 p.m.
