Howard cruises to 84-56 win over Maryland-Eastern Shore

WASHINGTON -- Charles Williams scored 28 points on Monday night, RJ Cole had 18 points, nine rebounds, six assists and two steals and Howard used three big first-half runs to pull away for an 84-56 win over Maryland-Eastern Shore.

Williams, a sophomore, has 16 games this season -- and 27 in his career -- with at least 20 points. Dalique Mingo added 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists and Jalen Jones had 10 points, 10 rebounds and four assists for Howard (7-19, 4-6 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference).

Tyler Jones gave UMES (6-20, 2-9) a 2-0 lead, but the Bison answered with a 9-2 spurt to take the lead for good. They added runs of 15-2, including nine points by Williams, and 23-3 -- opened and capped by 3s from Cole and during which Jones scored eight points -- before Mingo hit a 3 to make it 44-16 at halftime.

The Hawks trimmed their deficit to 13 points before Howard scored 21 of the final 27 points.

Eastern Shore made just seven first-half field goals and finished shooting 27.5 percent (19 of 69), including 2 of 23 from 3-point range.