Michael Ford saved his best for last Tuesday night.

After scoring only six points in the first three quarters, Ford took charge and led Howard's Hustlin' Tigers to a 63-60 overtime victory over Atlanta's Pace Academy.

Playing in Howard's new gymnasium in the Henry Bowles Preseason Christmas Basketball Classic, Ford scored 10 points in the fourth quarter and four more in overtime.

"He's our leading scorer at about 16 points per game and we try to look for him,'' Howard coach Leroy Higgins said. "He did a good job tonight. He's versatile. He can post up, flash and move out on the perimeter. We got him the ball late and he delivered.''

Pace (8-5) took a 48-45 lead with 4:52 left in the game on a field goal from post Jimmy Morgan. That's when Ford took charge.

He scored Howard's next 10 points, including a three-pointer that tied the game at 55 with 28 seconds left. Pace missed a three-pointer with two seconds left and the game went into overtime.

In overtime, Ford scored four more points. He gave Howard a 60-58 lead with 1:17 left and the Tigers didn't trail again.

"Give Pace a lot of credit,'' Higgins said. "They scouted us last night and they packed it in.

"We need to have more self-discipline as a staff and as players. We need to get in better shape and we need to work on our low-post defense. They kind of exposed us there a little tonight.''

Morgan led all scorers with his 20 points. Steven Satterfield added 15 for Howard (10-2), including three key free throws in overtime.

Jammal Taylor added 13 for Howard before fouling out in the overtime.

Morgan and John Hawkins each scored 17 for Pace and Vee Jasikevicius added 15.

Howard will play next week in the Super 16 Tournament at Knox Bearden High School.

"That's what we want to do with our tournament next year,'' Higgins said. "We want 16 teams. We want to make this an annual event because coach Bowles has meant so much to this community.''

** In Tuesday's other games, Notre Dame's girls beat CSAS and Notre Dame's boys beat 21st Century.

** Wednesday's schedule: 3--Pace vs. 21st Century boys; 4:30--Howard vs. Notre Dame, girls; 6--Howard vs. Notre Dame, boys.

PACE ACADEMY (60) -- Hennings, Robinson, Jasikevicius 15, Wyche 2, Weems 8, James, Smith, Hawkins 17, Morgan 17, Mallory 2.

HOWARD (63) -- Allen 5, Satterfield 15, Shropshire 1, Ford 20, Taylor 13, Halfacre 3, Harper 6, Norman, Evans, Ricks.

Pace Academy...13..12..17..13..5 -- 60
Howard.........17...9..12..17..8 -- 63

Three-points goals -- Satterfield 2, Ford 2, Harper 2, Jasikevicius 2, Weems 2, Halfacre.

(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)