Columbia, MD - Out of conference play began Saturday for the Howard Community College Dragons, and they opened their slate of non-conference games with a dominating 71-47 victory over Essex County College.

After sporting a 20-point lead at the half, the Dragons kept their foot on the gas pedal. All 13 Dragons who saw action scored, with Savion Gowder (Alexandria, VA/West Potomac) recording the first double-double of the season. Howard out-rebounded the Wolverines 51-27, dominating the boards all day long. Three different Dragons scored in double-digits as Howard moved to 2-0 on the season.

Saturday's game looked like it would be close after the first few minutes, but the Dragons quickly ended any hope of that. A deep three from Sincere Barfield (Baltimore, MD/Patterson) gave Howard a ten point lead halfway through the first half. A barrage of three points ballooned Howard's lead, as Barfield hit another and Colin Harshman (Baltimore, MD/Catonsville) netted two of his own. Arthur Roaché's two-handed jam gave the Dragons a 22-point lead just before the half, and although Essex County got two of those points back, Howard still led 36-16 at the buzzer.

Howard didn't let up in the second half, expanding their lead to 26 points. Emanuel Henriques (Baltimore, MD/Benjamin Franklin) took the lead on the court, scoring ten points in the half. In the paint, Savion Gowder (Alexandria, VA/West Potomac) was untouchable. The freshman forward recorded eight rebounds and eight points in the half, shutting down Essex County's top scorers. With the game out of reach for the Wolverines, head coach Mike Smelkinson subbed in several bench players to get their first minutes of the year. Jasper Hanna (Washington, DC/E.L. Haynes), Nathan Hiteshew (Columbia, MD/Wilde Lake), and Kanye McMahon (Lexington Park, MD/Chopticon) all scored their first points of the season in the final minutes as Howard pulled away to a 71-47 victory.

Henriques was the leading scorer for the Dragons with twelve points and four rebounds. Barfield scored ten points, two rebounds, and one assist. Gowder recorded a double-double with eleven rebounds and ten points, while also adding an assist, a block, and a steal. Colin Harshman (Baltimore, MD/Catonsville) added six points off two three pointers. Roaché added ten rebounds and four points, while Anthony Djami (Paris, France/Brequigny) gobbled up nine rebounds. Jaden Johnson (Upper Marlboro, MD/Dr. Henry A. Wise) led the team in assists with six, while also contributing two rebounds and five points.

The Dragons next face their first ranked opponent of the season as they battle Harcum College on Tuesday, November 12 at 7:00 PM.