Click here to view a slideshow of Oregon’s win over Howard.
Howard’s sophomore guard Anton Dickerson scored a game- and career-high 24 points and sophomore forward Dadrian Collins added 15 in a spirited effort, but it was not enough to stop Oregon State from pulling away with an 84-74 win over the Bison in a non-conference game at Burr Gymnasium Nov. 27.
The game was highlighted by the presence at the game of President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle and their two daughters, Malia and Sasha. Oregon State head coach Craig Robinson is the First Lady’s brother.
In a contest that saw several ties and lead changes, the Bison lead 33-32 at halftime,
Senior forward Omari Johnson paced the Beavers (3-2) by tallying 12 points in the first half on 5 of 8 shooting.
Howard (1-5) countered with a balanced attack, led by Collins with 9, freshman center Alphonso Leary with 7 and Dickerson with 6.
Howard dressed only seven scholarship players. “Our guys are battling and trying to compete,” said Howard first year head coach Kevon Nickelberry. “They have been put in some tough situations. I’m going to coach for 40 minutes and I am going to give them everything I’ve got. I tell them to just give me everything they’ve got and we’ll have a shot.”
Early in the second half, Oregon State was lead by sophomore guard Jared Cunningham and sophomore F-C Joe Burton, who combined for 26-second half points. Burton scored 13 points, on six of seven shooting while Cunningham put in nine of 10 free throws.
Howard was plagued by foul trouble for Collins, junior guard Clinton Cuffee, and sophomore forward Mike Phillips, but was nevertheless able to erase double-digit deficits on three different occasions to reduce the deficit down to a workable margin. 6’2” Dickerson, from Brooklyn, NY, hit four of five from three-point range including one that resulted in a rare four-point play. Sophomore reserve forward Gary Lawrence from Philadelphia, Pa. notched his first double- double of 11 points and 11 rebounds. Both were career highs.
But Oregon State wore them down. Cunningham, senior guard Calvin Haynes and freshman guard Ahmad Starks hit free throws to help the Beavers to a 74 percent shooting.
“The team was tired,” explained Nickelberry. “They kept bringing in people in and we just could not match them. Eventually it wore us down.”
NEXT UP FOR BISON: On Nov. 30, the Bison travel to Williamsburg, Va. to take on William & Mary at 7 p.m. On Dec. 4 they will play Hampton in the Big Apple Classic in New York’s Madison Square Garden at 7 p.m. On Monday, Dec. 6 they will conclude a three-day, six-game road trip with a match-up against Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. at 7 p.m.
