SALT LAKE (Interstat) — In a hard-fought men’s junior college basketball game decided by execution in the final seconds, the Howard College Hawks edged the Salt Lake Community College Bruin Bears 72-67 on Saturday night.

The contest, a back-and-forth affair from the opening tip, saw the Hawks improve their season record to 2-1 while the Bruin Bears fell to 1-2. The result was an upset according to Interstat’s ELO system, which had projected Salt Lake with a 63.5 percent probability to win.

Howard was propelled by a dominant performance from Daniel Culberson, who led all scorers with 28 points. Culberson added 8 rebounds and 4 assists in 38 minutes of action, consistently attacking the basket and drawing fouls. His backcourt mate, Terry Copeland, provided crucial secondary scoring with 20 points and 7 rebounds. The Hawks’ offense, while not always crisp, was efficient, scoring 72 points from 72 possessions for an offensive rating of 100.6.

Salt Lake was led by the sharp shooting of Danny Young Jr., who matched Culberson’s 28 points. Young Jr. was effective from beyond the arc, contributing to Salt Lake’s 10-for-26 performance from three-point range. Muhammed Jobe provided a significant spark off the bench for the Bruin Bears, scoring 16 points on an efficient shooting night.

The game’s defining characteristic was Howard’s overwhelming control of the glass. The Hawks outrebounded Salt Lake 35 to 20, including a decisive 9 to 3 advantage on the offensive boards. This relentless work on the offensive glass created numerous second-chance opportunities and offset Howard’s 14 turnovers.

Despite being outrebounded, Salt Lake stayed competitive by capitalizing on turnovers and shooting a higher percentage from three-point land. The Bruin Bears committed only 11 turnovers while forcing 14 from Howard. Jaxon Heiden was a key two-way presence for Salt Lake, contributing 10 points, 7 rebounds, and solid interior defense.

The first quarter set the tone for a tight game, ending with Howard holding a narrow 33-33 tie. The second quarter was more of the same, with neither team able to build a substantial lead. The game remained a one-possession affair deep into the final minutes.

With the score tight and seconds remaining on the clock, Howard’s ability to convert at the free-throw line sealed the victory. Daniel Culberson and Dace Pleasant combined for critical makes from the charity stripe in the closing moments, allowing the Hawks to maintain their slim lead. A final jump shot attempt by Salt Lake’s Nick Jefferson missed its mark, securing the five-point road win for Howard.

For the Hawks, Dace Pleasant finished with 11 points and 7 rebounds, while Oskar Stumer added 6 points and 2 assists.

Howard College entered the game with a split record from its opening weekend, having suffered a narrow 71-72 loss at Northern Oklahoma-Enid before winning a 95-94 shootout at Butler. Salt Lake was looking to rebound from an 80-62 road loss at Odessa the previous night.

The Hawks will look to build on this momentum when they return home to face Lee College on Friday, Nov. 14. Salt Lake, meanwhile, faces a quick turnaround, traveling to face Midland College on Sunday, Nov. 9.