Norfolk, VA—The regular season has ended and the real season begins for the Howard University men's basketball team when the Bison take on Coppin State on Monday in the first round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament at the Scope. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 pm. All games will be streamed live on the MEAC website. 

The Bison (8-23, 5-11 in the MEAC) enter as the Number 11 seed and will take on the Eagles (8-23, 7-9 in the MEAC), the Number 6 seed. The Bison have played better of late despite losing three of their last five. Two of the setbacks came against the Number 1 and 2 seeds in close contests. Coppin State split its last six but dropped three of its last four. 

The two teams met once during the regular season and Coppin State prevailed, 81-72 at Howard. The Eagles hot 54 percent, including a sizzling 8 of 14 from the three-point line. Freshman Dujuan Clayton led all scorers with 28 to lead a balanced attack that saw four players score in double figures. 

Howard countered with a 38-25 advantage on the boards, 15-8 on the offensive glass. MEAC Rookie of the Year, Charles "CJ" Williams led the Bison with 26 points while Solomon "Solo" Mangham just missed a double double with 13 points, 9 rebounds, Marcel Boyd corralling 11 rebounds and Damon Collins with one of his all-around performances of 15 points, 6 rebounds and a career-high 6 assists. 

Howard has had to battle injuries all season, but has settled into a nine-man rotation. The Bison have gotten some sterling play from reserves, center Tyler Stone, forward Jalen Jones and guards Kofi Andoh and Chuck Smith. 

Boyd, who needs three rebounds to move up to third on the all-time career list, is a key. When he has avoided foul trouble, he has been a strong factor with his work on the boards and the defensive end as a rim protector. 

Coppin State holds a 43-21 advantage in the series. 

The winner will advance to the next round against Morgan State, the Number 3 seed on Thursday at 6 pm.