New Rochelle, NY – The #17 ranked Dragons started out their journey through the Monroe College Mixer with a heartbreaking 73-63 loss to undefeated #4 ranked Orange County Colts.
 
A low scoring first half saw the stalwart Howard defense hold a high flying Colts team to just 27 points as Howard took a four point lead into the halftime break as Trea Keys (Columbia, MD/Wilde Lake) scored the last five points of the half to thrust the Dragons ahead.
 
The second half took a different shape as baskets were bountiful with Jalen Bowie (Frederick, MD/Frederick) scoring back-to-back shots early to increase the Howard lead.  Andrew Mills (Owings Mills, MD/Newtown) scored a tough layup in the paint a couple minutes later to grow the Dragon lead to six points midway through the second half. The Colts started to make a strong run back, but clutch points from Keys and Bowie along with a huge three pointer by Marquis Freeman (Manassas, VA/Fork Union Prep) continued to hold onto a slim lead for Howard.
 
After the Colts took a 53-52 lead, Keys hit another key mid-range jump shot followed by a Koby Baptiste (New Carrollton, MD/Parkdale) tip-in to put the Dragons ahead with under six minutes remaining. The Dragons sadly went cold after that as Orange County went on a 13-0 run to seal the fate of the game.
 
Keys led the team with 19 points off the bench while Bowie scored 15 along with six assists. Andrew Mills (Owings Mills, MD/Newtown) grabbed a season high 17 rebounds along with eight points combined with three steals and two blocks. Koby Baptiste (New Carrollton, MD/Parkdale) nearly missed out on a double-double with 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocks.

The Dragons will look to upset the nationally ranked Division I tournament hosts Monroe to close out the invitational at 3 PM on Sunday, January 8.