Howard basketball earns historic first at NCAA tourney

HOWARD ATHLETICS

Ose Okogie scored 23 points for Howard in the Bison's 86-83 win against Maryland-Baltimore County in the First Four round of the NCAA basketball tournament. The win was Howard's first in the postseason showcase.

Howard basketball made school history at the NCAA Tournament. 

The Bison beat the UMBC Retrievers 86–83 in the First Four to secure the program’s first-ever win, a breakthrough moment for a program that lost in the 2021 First Four in 2021 and 2023 first round. Howard controlled the game from the start, leading 49–41 at halftime and holding the advantage for nearly the entire contest. 

The Bison (24-10) led for 93% of the game and built a second-half lead as large as 14 points, but UMBC refused to go away, cutting the deficit to a single possession in the closing seconds. The Retrievers (24-9) had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer, but a contested 3-point attempt fell short, sealing the historic win for Howard.

Howard’s Ose Okojie led all scorers with 23 points, overcoming early second-half foul trouble to remain a steady presence down the stretch. MEAC Player of the Year Bryce Harris recorded a double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds, delivering one of the game’s biggest moments with a turnaround mid-range jumper with 13 seconds remaining to extend Howard’s lead to two possessions.

“Osi and I both got hurt last season against UMBC, and now we just won our first tournament game against the same team,” Harris said. “It’s really just a full circle moment.”

Howard’s offense was orchestrated by Cam Gillus, who finished with seven assists, while Cedric Taylor added 16 points and went 9-for-10 from the free-throw line, converting crucial attempts late. Travelle Bryson provided a spark off the bench with 11 points in just 10 minutes on efficient shooting.

As a team, Howard shot 10-for-21 from beyond the arc and controlled the glass, creating key second-chance opportunities. Both teams finished with 29 field goals, but Howard’s extra shot attempts and efficiency from the perimeter proved to be the difference.

UMBC shot over 50% from the field and stayed within striking distance throughout but struggled to complete the comeback. With the win, Howard faces No. 1 seed Michigan (31-3) in the first round.

“We’ve been in games like this before, and we practiced for late-game situations like these,” Okojie said. “On the big stage, there’s no time for fear or worry. We trust in our coach, our game plan, and in each other.”

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