Stanley Elliott tipped in an errant shot with 1.2 seconds remaining as Bethune-Cookman survived a late Howard rally to win its fourth straight, 66-64 Monday.
After the Bison's Mike Phillips hit two free throws with 10.1 seconds left to tie the score at 64-64, the Wildcats' C.J. Reed brought the ball up the court. Howard immediately pressured Reed, the conference's leading scorer, forcing him to pass to Kevin Dukes, who launched a desperation 3-pointer that clanged off the rim.
But Elliott, a 6-foot-3 guard, outjumped his defender for a one-handed tip-in. He then intercepted the Bison's desperation pass at midcourt to seal Bethune-Cookman's eighth straight road victory.
Reed scored 23 points, including 13 in the second half, to lead the Wildcats (17-11 overall, 11-3 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference).
Alphonso Leary scored a career-high 21 points for Howard (6-21, 4-10).
Reed, who came into the game averaging 19.1 points per game, was held in check for most of the night by the Bison's zone defense. But he scored seven straight points midway through the second half to spark the Wildcats. His 3-pointer with 8:11 left gave Bethune-Cookman a 56-55 lead - the Wildcats would not trail the rest of the game.
Howard had several chances down the stretch to take the lead, but Phillips missed a free throw with 54 seconds left that would have given the Bison a one-point edge. He finished with 17 points, 13 in the second half, as Howard's four-game home conference winning streak ended.
Elliott and Albert Abrahams each finished with 10 points for Bethune-Cookman, which finished its MEAC road slate undefeated. The Wildcats have not lost on the road since a 67-60 defeat at Jacksonville on Dec. 30.
