Wye Mills, MD - In what will likely go down as the game of the year, the Dragons took the #5 nationally ranked (D2) Chesapeake Skipjacks to an overtime thriller before falling 83-80.

The Skipjacks used their quick ball movement and lethal shooting touch to jump out to an early 19-10 lead, but a 10-0 run by the Dragons capped off by a Teylor Silverman (Baltimore, MD/Lansdowne) three pointer gave Howard the lead. Chesapeake once again got hot after that and closed out the first half with a 39-25 lead.

Howard came out of the halftime intermission with a different level of energy as a Cole Harshman (Baltimore, MD/Dulaney) tough tip-in started the comeback as a steal and fast break by David Garey (Gaithersburg, MD/Hargrave Military) cut it to just a one point deficit. Omar McGann (Waldorf, MD/St. Charles) came up with a couple of big baskets in the paint and a Koby Baptiste (New Carrollton, MD/Parkdale) fade away jumper put Howard ahead 60-58. Garey's aggressiveness got him to the charity stripe a bunch to help keep the Dragons scoring while a great pass by Harshman found Baptiste for a layup to take a 68-64 lead with under two minutes remaining.

Chesapeake's Mahzi Thames was able to drive the lane on three consecutive possessions, scoring baskets on the first two and making a free throw with eight seconds left to tie the game at 69-69 on the third. Howard was unable to get a shot off in time at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.

The Skipjacks scored first in the extra period, but a tough layup by Hollique Johnson (Millersville, MD/Old Mill) followed by one by Garey cut into the Chesapeake lead, but they extended it all the way up to a seven point lead with a minute remaining. Johnson slammed down a massive dunk followed by Eaton and Garey baskets were followed by a monster put-back jam by Joel Webb (Forrestville, MD/Dr. Henry A. Wise) to make it 84-82 Chesapeake with five seconds remaining. After Chesapeake made a single free throw, the Dragons had a chance to tie it at the buzzer, but a Silverman three pointer was just off as the Skipjacks held on to win.

Garey led the team with 22 points followed by Eaton with 15 along with his seven assists. Webb tallied another double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds as did Johnson with 10 points and 11 rebounds. 

Howard will travel Frederick CC on Saturday, February 12 for a 2 PM game against a Cougars team that is currently 0-10 on the season.