New Rochelle, NY - Howard Community College opened the MLK Classic at Monroe University with a huge ranked win as they defeated the Monroe Community College Tribunes 71-61.

Facing the #12 ranked team in Division II, the Dragons snagged the lead early and never looked back. After surviving a back-and-forth first half, Howard pulled away in the second behind a career-day from Truth Norton (Columbia, MD/Oakland Mills). Three Dragons scored in double-digits as Howard moved to 12-4 on the season.

Monroe jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, which would end up being their biggest lead of the night. The Dragons chewed into the lead off tough baskets from Myles McDuffie (Baltimore, MD/Lake Clifton) and Anthony Djami (Paris, France/Brequigny). Djami stayed hot deep into the period, hitting a game-tying layup with under ten to play, then another to take the lead. A Monroe run brought the Tribunes the lead once more, but Truth Norton's (Columbia, MD/Oakland Mills) clutch jumper pushed the Dragons back into the lead. The last minutes of the first half became a frantic back-and-forth, with Howard answering every Tribune basket with their own. A apri of Norton three-pointers right before the half gave Howard some much needed breathing room, and Colin Harshman (Baltimore, MD/Catonsville) smashed a buzzer-beater to give the Dragons an eight-point lead at the half.

Up 37-29, the Dragons kept the pressure up entering the second. Christian Dean's (Elkridge, MD/Long Reach) jumper seconds into the half gave the Dragons their first double-digit lead. Monroe pulled back within two, but a pair of Myles McDuffie (Baltimore, MD/Lake Clifton) free throws sparked another Dragons run. Monroe once again lowered the deficit, even retaking the lead midway through the half. As he had done all season, Dean hit a clutch basket to retake the lead and spark another run, but once again Monroe fought back into the game.

The cycle of Howard runs and Monroe answers finally snapped with five minutes to go. Jaden Johnson's (Upper Marlboro, MD/Dr. Henry A. Wise) athletic layup snagged the lead back for the Dragons, and Truth Norton (Columbia, MD/Oakland Mills) hit two huge layups to push the lead to seven. An exhausted Tribune offense finally stopped hitting their shots, and Howard's superior front court locked down the lead with an authoritative dunk by Arthur Roaché. With hope fading, the Tribunes tried to slow down Howard's assault with a flurry of fouls, but Howard hit their shots and rode the momentum to their fifth straight win.

Norton finished as the leading scorer for the Dragons with a career-high 15 points and three assists. Djami added 13 points, six rebounds, two blocks, and a steal in an excellent night guarding the middle. McDuffie added 12 points and two steals, while Roaché notched seven points and seven rebounds. Colin Harshman's (Baltimore, MD/Catonsville) buzzer-beater was his highlight of the night, but he also had six points. Emanuel Henriques (Baltimore, MD/Benjamin Franklin) added six points and five rebounds, while Jaden Johnson (Upper Marlboro, MD/Dr. Henry A. Wise) added five points, five assists, and three steals.

The Dragons wrap up the MLK Classic on Sunday as they face Erie Community College at 2:00 PM.