  We show that the rational Novikov conjecture for a group
  $\Gamma$ of finite homological type follows from the mod 2
  acyclicity of the Higson compactifcation of an E$\Gamma$. We then
  show that for groups of finite asymptotic dimension the Higson
  compactification is mod p acyclic for all p, and deduce the integral
  Novikov conjecture for these groups.
