Columbia, MD - In an exhilarating double-overtime classic, the Howard Community College Dragons' JV men's basketball team finally won their first game in program history!

The Dragons took down the Harcum College Bears 100-98 in a game that featured more memorable moments and performances than any game before it. From a wild comeback to a clutch game-saving three-pointer, Wednesday night's home finale was a watershed moment for the Dragons' youngest sports program.

Things got off to a rough start for the Dragons, as an explosive Harcum attack left Howard in a 20-7 hole minutes into the contest. Coach Will Thomas's squad began to fight back, edging into the contest with clutch baskets by Bliden Elung (Columbia, MD/Oakland Mills) and Stewart Long (Annapolis, MD/Springdale Prep). Kanye McMahon's (Lexington Park, MD/Chopticon) three-pointer got the Dragons within six, but another Harcum run left them stranded. Once again the Dragons fought back, aided by tough baskets by Jasper Hanna (Washington, DC/E.L. Haynes) and a pair of fastbreak layups from Nehemiah Smith (Bronx, NY/Laurel). With six minutes to go, the Dragons were within three, only for another Harcum run to turn the tide. Stewart Long (Annapolis, MD/Springdale Prep) stemmed the bleeding with a deep three, but Harcum fought back to make it a 12-point game at the half. 

Harcum's lead ballooned to 16 early in the second, forcing the Dragons to get aggressive. Smith sank a pair of buckets to get the comeback started, and Bliden Elung (Columbia, MD/Oakland Mills) was fouled on a drive to the basket that produced an extra point. Now within single digits, the Dragons pounced on a tiring Harcum. The Bears had no available subs, and were playing extra careful to avoid any players fouling out. Smith and Hanna sank their next two attempts to get within three. Hanna then hit a tough basket to tie the game, and seconds later scored the go-ahead basket. The Dragons run continued with Smith smashing down bucket after bucket to extend Howard's lead to nine.

The Bears weren't dead in the water yet, and behind a flurry of threes they fought back to retake the lead with seven minutes to go. Stewart Long (Annapolis, MD/Springdale Prep) and Truce Norton (Columbia, MD/Oakland Mills) responded with their own threes to give Howard the lead once more, but Harcum's persistent shooting pushed the Bears back ahead by five. A Norton jumper with less than two minutes to go brought the Dragons within three, before Kanye McMahon (Lexington Park, MD/Chopticon) snatched up a loose ball on the sidelines to give Howard another possession. A foul sent Jasper Hanna (Washington, DC/E.L. Haynes) to the line, but the freshman only managed to hit one of his free throws. The deficit was still two points with seconds left.

Hanna would redeem himself seconds later, blocking a game-clinching shot by Harcum and drawing a crucial foul. Hanna hit his free throws to tie the game, but Harcum would get one last chance with 18 seconds left. However, Quadeir Hand committed an offensive foul that set up the Dragons for a final shot. Kanye McMahon (Lexington Park, MD/Chopticon) would take said shot, but was off target. Tied at 77-77, overtime would be necessary.

Overtime got off to a rough start for the Dragons. Harcum quickly pounced to take a multi-possession lead. With seconds ticking down, the Dragons needed a miracle. They had an advantage with two Harcum players fouling out, but with Jasper Hanna (Washington, DC/E.L. Haynes) also fouling out the best offensive weapon of the night was on the sideline. Bliden Elung (Columbia, MD/Oakland Mills) managed to cut through Harcum's depleted defense for a big basket with ten seconds left, dropping the deficit to three. On the inbound pass, Kanye McMahon (Lexington Park, MD/Chopticon) swiped the ball and dished it to Truce Norton (Columbia, MD/Oakland Mills), who launched a prayer. Norton's shot banked off the backboard and through to tie the game at the buzzer, sending the contest to double-overtime.

With both teams exhausted and depleted, double overtime became a back-and-forth shootout. Harcum once more took the lead, but foul trouble was catching up to them. Howard eased back into the contest with free throws, then tied things up off a Norton jumper. McMahon got a hand on the inbound pass but lost the ball immediately to Aboubacar Sylla. However, Sylla stumbled as he grabbed the steal, and the ball popped out of his hands into Norton's hands. Norton immediately flipped the ball to Nehemiah Smith (Bronx, NY/Laurel) who was fouled. Smith hit one of his shots to take the lead, and with just seconds left and only three Harcum defenders on the court, the Dragons grabbed the ensuing rebound to ice the game. Norton was sent to the line to wrap up the contest, but missed his second free throw to give Harcum one last chance. The Bears got the ball down the court, but couldn't get the final shot off in time. That last shot was on target, meaning that if one extra second had been on the clock, Harcum would have walked it off. Instead, the Dragons celebrated their first win in program history!

Smith broke the program record for points with 22, while also recording 13 rebounds and six blocks. McMahon's clutch shots kept the Dragons in the game all night long, as he recorded 20 points, eleven rebounds, five assists, and five steals. Hanna was named player of the game with 19 points, 12 rebounds, ten assists, three blocks, and two steals. Norton added 18 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two clutch steals. Bliden Elung (Columbia, MD/Oakland Mills) had a double-double with eleven points and 14 rebounds, while Stewart Long (Annapolis, MD/Springdale Prep) added ten points, six rebounds, and three assists off the bench.

The Dragons wrap up their season on Sunday as they face Monroe University on the road at 2:00 PM.