Julius Carter scored a game-high 19 points, including a perfect 9-for-9 from the free-throw line, to lead South Carolina State to a 74-61 win over Howard Monday at Burr Gymnasium.

Carter and Carrio Bennet each scored 11 first half points as the Bulldogs took an early advantage and led, 40-29 at halftime. Eugene Myatt led the Bison with eight points in the first 20 minutes.

SC State increased the lead to 56-42 in the first 10 minutes of the second half, but the Bison put together an 8-0 run that got them to within six at 56-50 with 7:49 remaining. Then turnovers and botched opportunities reared their ugly heads again it allowed the Bulldogs to up the margin to 64-51 with 5:07 remaining. Carter was a key factor during the run.

“I was extremely proud of how the team withstood the run,” said SC State head coach Tim Carter, whose team was coming a heartbreaking loss to Hampton on Saturday. “Julius played extremely well and Thomas Bookman gave us some outstanding minutes off the bench.”

Howard, however, was still not done as the Bison rallied with an 8-1 run that cut the deficit to 65-59 with 1:52 still left on the clock.

But again, the Bison were plagued by bad decisions and missed free throws. After making 8 of 11 from the charity stripe in the first half, Howard missed 9 of 17 after intermission.

“We have to make our free throws,” lamented Howard head coach Gil Jackson. “We have guys going to the line that we think can make free throws, but they end up missing them. I don’t know if it’s lack of confidence, fatigue or lack of poise.”

Jackson continued, “We spent a lot of effort trying to come back. We don’t seem to have the poise to complete a run. A lot of the players are trying to do things by themselves. And you have to give them (SC State) credit. They hit some big shots.”

The Bulldogs (9-17 overall, 5-7 in the MEAC) were able to hit their free throws, converting 9 of 11 in the second half. Carter and Bookman were a combined 11-for-11.
“When you are on the road like this, it is important that you make your free throws,” said Carter (no relation to the coach). “All I was thinking was that I had to knock them down.”

Randy Hampton scored 12 of his 17 in the second half for the Bison while Myatt also tallied 17 and Adam Walker just missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds.

Bennett chipped in with 14 for the Bulldogs and Bookman had 13.