Columbia, MD - The Howard Community College Dragons JV men's basketball team fell to 0-7 on the season with an 83-73 loss to Monroe University on Saturday.

Despite a double-double from Jasper Hanna (Washington, DC/E.L. Haynes), along with four double-digit scorers, the Dragons squandered a 34-31 halftime lead. Howard was outscored 52-39 down the stretch, despite every member of the roster scoring at least one point.

Saturday's game got off to a rough start for the Dragons as they fell behind 8-0 in the opening minutes. That would be the most they would trail by in the first half, as a big three from Kanye McMahon (Lexington Park, MD/Chopticon) kick-started the offense. Howard chipped into Monroe's lead, taking their first lead off a Jasper Hanna (Washington, DC/E.L. Haynes) fast-break layup. The contest turned into a back-and-forth shootout over the last nine minutes of the half. McMahon and Hanna kept powering the Dragons back ahead every time they lost the lead, while Nehemiah Smith (Bronx, NY/Laurel) completely dominated the paint with ten rebounds. Howard led 34-31 at the half with all the momentum.

The game remained a close battle early in the second half with neither team able to pull away from the other. Smith locked down the middle for the Dragons, hitting crucial baskets to keep Howard's lead intact. What ultimately doomed the Dragons were turnovers; 12 in the half to be exact. Monroe capitalized, jumping out to a double-digit lead that the Dragons couldn't lower. Late in the half, down 17, Howard sent in their bench players to close out the loss. Jy'Shawn Pearson (Boston, MA/Wilde Lake) brought the Kahlert Complex to its feet with a deep three as the Dragons battled back to within ten points in the final minute.

McMahon was the leading scorer for the Dragons with 18 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Hanna recorded a double-double, scoring 16 points, ten rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Bliden Elung (Columbia, MD/Oakland Mills) added 13 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals, while Truce Norton (Columbia, MD/Oakland Mills) dropped ten points and a pair of steals. Nehemiah Smith (Bronx, NY/Laurel) came close to a double-double with six points, eleven rebounds, two assists, and two blocks.

The Dragons next face Virginia Union University on Tuesday, January 28 at 6:00 PM.