Preview: Howard (Tex.) Hawks at Redlands Cougars

EL RENO, Okla. (Interstat) — A surging Howard (Tex.) Hawks squad will put its five-game winning streak on the line against the Redlands Cougars in a non-conference men’s junior college basketball matchup Friday night.

The Hawks (8-2) travel north following a dominant 93-60 victory over Temple last Saturday, where they showcased a balanced offensive attack. Howard has won those five consecutive games by an average margin of 23.4 points.

Redlands (1-0), playing its home opener, opened its season with a 90-78 road win at Clarendon last Friday. The Cougars will look to build momentum before beginning conference play in January.

A key matchup will feature Howard’s Daniel Culberson against Redlands’ Justice Johnson. Culberson, a consistent force for the Hawks, is coming off a 20-point, 7-rebound, 6-assist performance against Temple. Over his last three full games, he is averaging 15.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists.

Johnson announced his presence for Redlands with a spectacular debut, pouring in 31 points to go with six rebounds in the win over Clarendon. Containing him will be a primary focus for the Howard defense.

The Hawks have relied on more than just Culberson. Terry Copeland also scored 20 points with eight rebounds against Temple, and Dace Pleasant added 12 points off the bench. Howard’s only losses this season came by a single point to Northern Oklahoma-Enid and on the road to Lamar.

Redlands’ supporting cast showed promise in its opener, with Damond Matthews contributing 22 points and seven rebounds. The Cougars will need a similar committee effort to handle a deep Howard team.

This contest marks the final non-conference tune-up for Redlands before a holiday break. Howard will continue a tough road stretch, facing North Idaho and Southern Nevada next week.

Tip-off is set for Friday, Dec. 12, at Redlands Community College.