WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Howard University Bison and the Norfolk State University Spartans set to clash in a rare Thursday night Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference match-up of the top two teams in Burr Gymnasium.
The match will have an impact on the conference standings. The contest was rescheduled from earlier this season due to Covid-19 protocols in the Spartans program. Howard faced Norfolk State in the MEAC tournament semifinals last season, 50-44.
GAME DAY INFORMATION
Howard (11-8, 5-2 MEAC) vs Norfolk State University (10-7, 6-0 MEAC)
Date: Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022
Site: Burr Gymnasium
Tip-off: 5:30 p.m.
Series Record: Howard leads, 33-19 |
T/V: N/A
Audio: N/A
Live Stream: Here
Live Stats: Here
Websites: NSUSpartans.com | HUBison.com
Tickets: The first 250 students will get free admission, starting at 5:00 p.m.; admission is $10 for students once all tickets have been exhausted. Students must show their Bison app and a valid student i.d.
COVID-19 Policy: Effective January 15, 2022, in compliance with the District of Columbia's Vaccination DC policy, all guests ages 12 years and older are required to show proof of vaccination to enter Burr Gymnasium. PLEASE NOTE: Burr Gymnasium will be operating at 50-percent capacity during events until further notice.
Guests age 12 and older must provide proof of having received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by January 15, 2022, to enter. For those taking a two-dose vaccine, Pfizer or Moderna, proof of a second dose will be required for entry beginning February 15, 2022.
Last Time Out:
The Howard University Bison swarmed the Hornets all night, defeating Delaware State University 83-49 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference [MEAC] action in Memorial Hall Monday night.
Howell paced the Bison scoring a career-high 23 points. Vanessa Udoji scored a season-high [14pts], and Nyla Cooper chipped in 11 points.
Marissa Steel saw her most action of the season and took advantage, recording a team-high seven rebounds while putting up five points and three steals. Fort-Davis also brought down seven rebounds and was a point shy of a double-double.
The Bison defense held the Hornets to a season-low 47 shots, recorded 12 steals, and forced 20 turnovers.
Howard's offense dished out a season-high 20 assists. Nyla Cooper [5] and Kaniyah Harris [6] dished out career-highs. In addition, the Bison was on fire from beyond the arc connecting on 11 shots from downtown for a season-best .379 3FG shooting percentage. The last time the Bison knocked down double-digit three-pointers was when they defeated the Hornets 71-60 in Burr Gymnasium [1/30/21]. Former Bison standout Jayla Thornton went 7-of-12 from long range.
About the Bison:
Howard comes into the contest looking to stay in contention for the top seed.
Howard ranks third in scoring [62.8ppg] third in scoring defense [62.9] in the conference. Destiny Howell [12.5ppg] and Anzhane' Hutton [10.8ppg] rank fifth and ninth respectively in the MEAC conference. Hutton [7.5 rpg]ranks second in rebounds. Iyanna Warren 4.8 assists lead the conference in assists.
- Head Coach Ty Grace won her 155th game as a head coach versus Frostburg St. and is five games from reaching the 100 win game mark as a Bison.
- The 2020-21 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Northern Division Champions fell in the finals of the 2021 conference tournament. However, the Bison took the league by storm last season. Despite the pandemic, Howard went 10-2 in conference play and 15-4, with non-conference wins versus LaSalle, George Washington, Mount Saint Mary's, and Richmond.
- The Bison were selected No. 1 in the MEAC Preseason Poll by the league's coaches and media relations personnel.
- Three Bison was named the Preseason All-MEAC Team, Anzhane' Hutton, Kaiya Creek, and Iyanna Warren.
- Howard head coach Ty Grace enters her seventh season at the helm, named 2020-21 MEAC Coach of the Year.
- The Bison only lost one starter from last season's team.
- Last season, Howard posted the best regular-season winning percentage (.823) in school history. In addition, the Bison's defense ranked sixth nationally in field-goal percentage defense (33.9) and three-point field goal defense (25.6). Howard's 28.9 defensive rebounds ranked 30th in the NCAA led by 2020-21 Rookie of the Year Anzhane' Hutton. Hutton was also named to the All-MEAC second team, All-Rookie, and All-Defensive team.
About the Spartans
Norfolk State was picked to finish third in the MEAC preseason poll. Armani Franklin was the sole Spartan to earn MEAC preseason honors, voted onto the second team. NSU has buried opponents from deep all season, adding to their strong numbers with its record-setting shooting night against Delaware State last week. The Spartans rank first in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage (29.6%), making 5.4 per game. Downs leads the team from beyond the arc, shooting at a 35.1% clip.
NSU Last Time Out
The Spartans survived a defensive battle on the road Monday, beating Maryland Eastern Shore 53-48 behind a strong performance at the free-throw line. Deja Francis, who led all scorers with 13 points, shot 11-of-12 (93.7 percent) at the charity stripe, making four in the final ten seconds of the game.
Foul trouble plagued NSU all night, with Camille Downs and Niya Fields fouling out of the game within ten seconds of each other late in the fourth quarter. With those starters playing limited minutes, Janay Turner stepped up for the Spartans, hitting a trio of 3-pointers off the bench.
MEAC Tournament Tickets:
Tickets for the 2022 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Basketball Tournament (March 9-12 at Norfolk Scope Arena, Norfolk, Va.) are now on sale through Howard ticket office.
The Bison will tipoff a MEAC doubleheader, as the Hornets of Delaware State visits the Nation Capital Saturday for a 2:00 p.m. tipoff.
--BLEED BLUE--
