BALTIMORE, Md. – Highlighted by a season-high 13 3-pointers and freshman Azmar Abdullah's 21-point performance, the Boston University men's basketball team concluded the UMBC multi-team event with a 69-62 victory over two-time defending MEAC champion Howard.

The Terriers (3-4) faced a 56-54 deficit against the Bison (3-3) with 3:11 remaining when Abdullah netted back-to-back 3-pointers to spark a game-ending 15-6 run that included 13 total points from the Rhode Island native. 

Sophomore Kyrone Alexander was the other Terrier to reach double figures at 10 points alongside seven rebounds, while senior Malcolm Chimezie came up just two points shy of a double-double with a game-high 10 rebounds. Senior Ben Palacios (9 pts.) and sophomore Michael McNair (8 pts.) combined for five buckets from behind the arc to help BU finish with four more 3-pointers than the previous season high.

For the Bison, Marcus Dockery scored a team-high 17 points, while Blake Harper earned 14 points and seven rebounds. Anwar Gill also reached double figures at 10 points. The three men though went a combined 0-for-8 in 3-point territory, as Howard finished 2-for-16 (.125) in the loss.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After Chimezie hit a layup for an early 4-2 lead with 17:04 left in the first half, the Bison went on an 8-0 spurt over the next 2:30 capped by Joshua Strong's 3-pointer.
• Abdullah and Palacios responded with back-to-back treys as part of a 17-4 run finished by another 3-pointer from Palacios at 7:02.
• BU entered the locker room ahead, 26-21, thanks to seven 3-pointers, three free throws and a single bucket inside the arc.
• The Bison cut the Terriers' lead to three on four occasions through the first four minutes of action, but BU had a response each time.
• Junior Nico Nobili and Palacios both flushed a 3-pointer on consecutive BU possessions to extend the Terriers' lead to 38-31 at 15:44.
• After Abdullah scored from behind the arc four minutes later to maintain a seven-point advantage, 46-39, the Bison mounted a rally by clamping down defensively.
• Howard forced six turnovers as part of an 8-0 run capped by Gill's steal and fastbreak layup to pull back ahead, 47-46.
• Chimezie responded with back-to-back buckets in the paint to grab a 50-47 advantage at 5:47, but the Bison scored five quick points and broke the game's last tie at 3:28 on Dockery's contested jumper.
• Aubdullah would then go on to score 13 of his 21 points, starting with back-to-back 3-pointers and later another trey at 37 seconds to grab a 65-60 lead.
• After Harper scored a bucket, Alexander hit two free throws with 21 seconds remaining for a five-point advantage.
• Abdullah then sealed the victory with a steal and pair of free throws.

GAME NOTES

• BU went 2-0 at a multi-team event for the first time since posting wins over Northern Illinois and Sam Houston State as part of the Jax Bracket at The Jacksonville Classic in 2021.
• Abdullah's 21 points matched Alexander's season high set in an earlier win over Dartmouth.
• Roy had five assists for the second time in his career after reaching the mark last season against VTSU-Johnson.
• The Terriers' 13 3-pointers surpassed their previous high of nine recorded multiple times this year.
• BU improved to 2-1 all-time against Howard, avenging last year's 64-53 defeat on the Bison's home court.

UP NEXT

• The Terriers will next return home to host Sacred Heart on Sunday, Dec. 1, as part of a BU basketball doubleheader.
• The women will tip off against Rider at 1 p.m., and the men will follow against Sacred Heart at 4 p.m.
• BU won last year's first-ever meeting on the road against the Pioneers, 70-49.