Baltimore, MD – A highly entertaining heavyweight bout saw the Howard Dragons falling to the Baltimore City Panthers by the score of 80-77.
 
The Panthers came out firing as they hit 8-13 from three point range in the first half while jumping out to a 27-20 lead. Howard slowly chipped away as Benjamin Murphy (Reisterstown, MD/Franklin) hit a fade away jumper followed by layups by Shane Taylor (Ellicott City, MD/Centennial) and Koby Baptiste (New Carrollton, MD/Parkdale) as part of a 7-0 run to tie the game. After falling behind again, Cameron Watts (Columbia, MD/Boys Latin) knocked down a long range shot in the final minute of the first half to give the Dragons a 38-37 lead at halftime.
 
A frantic paced second half continued to set the tone of the game as the two teams exchanged baskets throughout. Howard was able to build up a seven point lead midway through the second half as Murphy continued to bully his way in the paint, but a strong Panthers run saw them take the lead back at 68-66 with under five minutes left.
 
With Baltimore City still ahead by three, Andrew Mills (Owings Mills, MD/Newtown) hit a clutch three pointer with two minutes left to tie the game at 72-72. A tough layup by Wendall Tomlin, who finished with a game high 21 points, put the Panthers back ahead. After another Baltimore City jumper to extend the lead to five, Watts knocked down a huge three pointer with under a minute left to make it a 77-75 Panther lead.
 
The drama continued to increase as the Dragons forced a steal, but would miss multiple attempts to tie the game before being forced to foul the Panthers onto the free throw line where they were able to ice the game despite one last basket from Marquis Freeman (Manassas, VA/Fork Union Prep) to make it close.
 
Mills finished the game with 18 points with Murphy close behind at 14. Watts and Baptiste each scored 13 in the game with Baptiste making it a double-double with 10 rebounds.
 
The Dragons will have little time to rest as they travel to another division I opponent, heading to Allegany College on Saturday, February 4 at 3 PM. The Dragons defeated Allegany exactly one year prior in a 90-61 rout; breaking up a streak of five consecutive wins for the Trojans in the storied history between the two powerhouse teams.