DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Paul Scotland scored 16 points as Bethune-Cookman led from start to finish for a 64-50 victory over Howard Monday night in Moore Gymnasium.

The senior scored 13 first-half points on 5-6 shooting as the Wildcats (10-16 overall, 5-6 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)  jumped out to early leads of 5-0 and 13-5. Bethune-Cookman led by as many as 13 at 28-15 on a Scotland jumper with 4:02 remaining before settling for a 33-21 halftime lead.

Howard (6-21,3-10) got as close as 36-41 on a Tre Lee three-pointer with 15:20 remaining. Bethune-Cookman finally pulled away by turning a 47-39 lead with eight minutes left to a 62-44 advantage on a Malik Jackson three-pointer with 2:08 left.

Jackson, Javoris Bryant and Adrien Coleman each added 12 points for the Wildcats, who posted their second-best defensive effort of the season in holding the Bison to 50. Bryant and Coleman had a combined 17 in the final 20 minutes.

Mike Phillips had 13 for Howard.

B-CU hosts South Carolina State Saturday at 4 p.m.

HEAD COACH GRAVELLE CRAIG

On Paul Scotland:

"He did a good job. He is a senior and he is experienced. He is a streaky shooter but he got going early. With Ricky [Johnson]  out it's an opportunity for him to get some more minutes."

"They [Howard] play a lot of zone and we were able to make some three's against it to get them out of it."

"I talked to our team about our last three home games and last five games. I told them we have to gain momentum now. A lot of teams that play well going into the tournament often win it."

JAVORIS BRYANT

"I'm just trying to provide senior leadership. We are trying to gain momentum heading into the conference tournament."

On Paul Scotland's game:

"He definitely gave us a spark. We know that he can go out there and score. He does a good job of doing it off the bench for us.

PAUL SCOTLAND

"I was just being aggressive. I had to step it up with one of our main point guards out with an injury."

NOTES: B-CU's six turnovers were a season low ... Wildcats now 7-1 when they have 15 or more assists ... Scotland had career highs for rebounds (seven) and assists (six) as he led the team in scoring for the third time this season ... Kevin Dukes made his 128th appearance, setting the school record ...The Wildcats closed to a half game of Morgan State and North Carolina A&T for sixth place in the conference standings.