Clutch Free Throws Clinches Prince George's Men's Basketball Win Against Howard, 87-86

COLUMBIA, Md. - Tunde Scrivner (Washington, D.C./H.D. Woodson), Moetaz Ashkar (Landover Hills, Md./Parkdale) and Alex Morales (Paterson, N.J./Manchester Regional) combined to go 5-for-6 from the free throw line in the final 34 seconds to seal an 87-86 victory against Howard Community College in Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference (MD JUCO) men's basketball action on Wednesday.

Holding an 82-81 lead with 34 seconds remaining, Scrivner made the frontend of two free throws to extend the lead to two points. After a missed Dragons shot attempt Ashkar corralled the defensive rebound and made two charity tosses 12 seconds later for an 85-81 edge. After a made trey by Howard, Morales clinched the win with two freebies with six seconds on the clock and despite a Dragons basket at the buzzer the Owls (13-2, 4-2 MD JUCO) got back in the win column.

Morales paced Prince George's with 23 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists, five steals and two blocks. He shot 9-for-11 from the floor, 1 of 1 from behind the arc and 4 of 5 from the free throw line. The sophomore has reached double figures in points in all 15 games including six 20-point performances. Morales has also reached 10+ rebounds nine times this season for nine double-doubles including turning the trick in each of the last four contests. He has also dished out at least five assists 12 times this season and recorded at least five thefts in a game five times. Morales leads the team with 19.7 points and 11.1 rebounds per game.

Scrivner added 14 points off the bench. After not posting double figures in points for the first time in his career in his last game, Scrivner returns to his usual double-digit point performance against Howard for his 14th-point game in 15 games. The freshman ranks second on the team with 16.4 points per game.

Dariel Medina (Silver Spring, Md./James H. Blake) posted 11 points and Ashkar chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds in the winning effort. Medina has reached double figures in points in three-straight games, four times this season and five times in his career. Ashkar notched his third 10-point game of the season and fourth of his career.

The way the game started one would not think that it could be a nailbitter at the end after the Owls started the game by scoring the first 14 points and 20 of the first 22 points on the night. Morales fueled the run with seven points in the first five minutes and seven seconds.

The Largo program maintain a double-digit advantage throughout the first half and went into the locker room with a 44-26 lead.

In the second half, the Owls extended its margin to its largest of the game at 54-34 with 16:40 after a Morales traditional 3-point play. After Darren Rivers (District Heights, Md./DuVal) scored in the lane at 9:48 for a 72-55 advantage, Howard made a one-point game with 77 seconds left thanks to a 26-10 run. Clutch free throw shooting by the trio of Scrivner, Ashkar and Morales clinched the squad's 10th win in 11 tilts.

Rivers and Jalen Robinson (Bowie, Md./Bowie) each added eight points while Dexter Turner (Washington, D.C./Idea Public Charter) stuffed the stat sheet with seven points, five rebounds and four assists.

Prince George's is slated to return to action on Saturday at home against Garrett College. Tipoff is 4 p.m.