Columbia, MD - The Dragons stayed perfect at home as they defeated a top five nationally ranked team for the first time in program history, knocking off the #4 ranked (NJCAA Division II) Beaver County Titans in a statement 98-70 victory.

The Titans came into the game with a 23-1 record and had been blowing out their opponents all year long, averaging 38 more points than their opponents throughout the season including an average of 105 points per game; best in the NJCAA.

Beaver County showed off their impressive athleticism with some very loud dunks, but it was the Dragons who jumped out to an early lead with three pointers by Deven Richmond (Bowie, MD/DeMatha), Naquan Williams-Day (Columbia, MD/Oakland Mills) and Daeshawn Eaton (Columbia, MD/Oakland Mills) in the first five minutes. Howard continued to shoot hot from behind the arc as Kelvin Sellman (Temple Hills, MD/Crossland) and Cole Harshman (Baltimore, MD/Dulaney) added to the splash day. The Titans closed the Dragons lead to five late in the first half, but an Eaton three pointer and back-to-back fast break layups by Michael Gray (Glendale, MD/Bowie) opened the lead up again.

Coming out of halftime, Gray hit from long range as Howard would go onto holding a double-digit lead for nearly the entire second half. A combined 38 fouls in the second half slowed the pace of the game down to a free throw shooting contest, but nothing could cool off the incredible team effort of the Dragons.

Williams-Day was able to find his early season form again with a 25 point performance. Eaton scored 17, Gray chipped in 14 and Harshman added 10 off the bench. Sellman had another one of those understated games with 10 points, eight rebounds, six assists and no turnovers. Richmond, Joel Webb (Forestville, MD/Wise) and Christian Matthews (Clinton, MD/National Christian) added seven points each with Webb also adding four blocks to his name.

Howard will leave the friendly confines of the Dragons Lair to travel to Southern Maryland on Friday, February 21 at 7 PM as they continue to prepare for the regional tournament that will take place at Howard Community College for the NJCAA March Madness.