Rockville, MD - In a thrilling back-and-forth match, the Howard Community College Dragons fell to the Montgomery College Raptors 70-67.

An intense, tight game came between two ranked opponents came down the wire, and for the second time this season, a last-second game-tying three point attempt by the Dragons fell short. The loss dropped the Dragons to 7-3 on the season and 2-1 in conference play.

The first half was evenly matched between the two foes. Howard was out-rebounded by the Raptors, but matched them on assists and turnovers. The Raptors shot better from the free throw line, but Howard shot better from the floor. Neither team could pull away from the other, with every basket answered by another. Howard's Arthur Roaché was the key to the Dragons first half, dropping 13 points and five rebounds. Roaché's free throws with four minutes left gave the Dragons their largest lead of the half at three. Montgomery pulled ahead with back-to-back jumpers, only to be answered by a Christian Dean (Elkridge, MD/Long Reach) three-pointer. Howard had a chance to take the lead entering the half, but a missed free throw, the one category the Dragons struggled in all day, resulted in a 32-32 tie.

The game remained a close battle in the second half. Every Montgomery lead was answered by a Howard score. The Raptors were able to get multiple scores on the Dragons, only for Howard to battle back and tie the game over and over. In these kinds of games, every single basket counts. Every rebound makes a difference. Every mistake is magnified. 

Howard took a four point lead with three and a half minutes to go off a Jaden Johnson (Upper Marlboro, MD/Dr. Henry A. Wise) layup. Montgomery immediately responded with a three pointer, then took the lead back on a dunk. An exchange of free throws made it 64-62 Raptors with one thrilling minute left. Montgomery's Christopher Levy took control, sinking a jumper and acing his free throws to give the Raptors a six-point lead. Howard got a point back off a Myles McDuffie (Baltimore, MD/Lake Clifton) free throw, but with 14 seconds left, the game seemed out of reach. Jaden Johnson (Upper Marlboro, MD/Dr. Henry A. Wise) was fouled on a drive to the basket and stepped up for two crucial free throws. He aced his first, but the second bounced free. Anthony Djami (Paris, France/Brequigny) scooped it up and dished out to Christian Dean (Elkridge, MD/Long Reach), who hit a massive three pointer to cut the lead to one. A quick foul by Dean sent Levy, and the game, to the line. If Levy missed his free throws, the Dragons could win the game with a simple layup. If he made one, a three pointer could win it. But if he made both, the Dragons would need a three to force overtime. Levy made both.

Now the Dragons needed a three-pointer to secure overtime. After a timeout, and with five seconds left, the Dragons turned to sharpshooter Sincere Barfield (Baltimore, MD/Patterson). Barfield had come inches from sending Howard's November battle with Harcum College to overtime, and in a cruel repeat of fate, the same sequence happened. Barfield launched a last second three that came inches from the rim, just skimming the net. The Dragons fell at the buzzer, 70-67.

Roaché finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, and two steals to lead the team. Myles McDuffie (Baltimore, MD/Lake Clifton) scored 13 points and two steals, while Emanuel Henriques (Baltimore, MD/Benjamin Franklin) added ten points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Barfield added nine points off the bench, while Dean added six points off two threes and five rebounds. Johnson had five points, seven rebounds, and three assists.

The Dragons wrap up the first half of the season on Friday, December 20 as they duel with Baltimore City Community College at 7:00 PM.