BALTIMORE (February 20, 2023) – Howard University men's basketball team fell short to Morgan State (MSU), 89-76, ending the program's nine-game win streak.
 
With the setback, HU dropped to 17-11 (9-2 MEAC) and remains atop of the conference standings after Coppin State stunned Norfolk State in Norfolk, Va., 69-62.
 
Howard entered Monday's contest shorthanded with redshirt junior Steve Settle, III (Glenarden, Md.) missing his first collegiate game. The DMV native started his first 61 games in his career.
 
Seven-time Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Rookie of the Week freshman standout Shy Odom (Roxbury, Mass.) stepped up in a big way, producing his first career double-double (22 points & 10 boards) in the loss.
 
" With Steve not being able to play tonight, I had to step up on both ends," Odom stated after the game. "But we have to stay locked in and finish the regular season strong because our opponents are coming for us."
 
Howard won the opening tip, but Morgan State put the first points of the game on the board. Second-year Bison Elijah Hawkins (Washington) put Howard's first points on the board with a set of free throws.
 
The tone for the game was set from the opening whistle, high-intensity and face-paced play.
 
The game started to slip away from the Bison early on with MSU gaining momentum from hot shooting. But sophomore guard Marcus Dockery (Washington) immediately made a three-pointer, followed Odom's old-fashion three-point play.
 
After consistent back-and-forth play, a three from graduate guard Jelani Williams (Washington) put the Bison ahead with five minutes left in the half.
 
Graduate forward Kobe Dickson (Holcomb, Kan.) came into the lineup with tremendous efforts on the defensive end.
 
The Bison began to stretch their lead to six points, overtaking the momentum of the game by improving their shooting efficiency while winning rebounding battle.
 
The Bison went into halftime ahead, 32-28.
 
Opening the second half, the Bears entered with a new level of energy, quickly catching up and taking the lead within three minutes.
 
Morgan State pressed on all inbounding plays; thus, the Bison trailed by six at the 11-minute mark. MSU began to slow the pace down, limiting HU possessions.
 
The contest slowly started to slip away from Howard with the Bears stretching their lead to 11 points with 2:30 remaining in the game. Howard had their fair share of big plays, but this was not enough to overtake Morgan State, who continued to make big shots down the stretch.
 
Hawkins finished with 16 points and four assists while Williams added 11 points off the bench.
 
"We must be ready to battle on the boards all 40 minutes," Williams expressed postgame. "We must rebound and defend better. We'll be okay if we focus on those two things next game."
 
Howard outrebounded MSU, 43-32.
 
The Bison will travel to North Carolina Central Saturday (Feb. 25) to face off for the second time this season. Tipoff is slated for 4 p.m., inside McDougald-McLendon Arena.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.