ORANGEBURG, S.C. (February 27, 2023) – Howard University men's basketball team came out on top in a hard-fought battle against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponent South Carolina State, 82-78.
 
With the win, HU moved to 18-12 (10-3 MEAC) on the season while snapping its brief two-game slide.
 
Graduate guard Jelani Williams (Washington) led the team with 23 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
 
Howard won the opening tip, but South Carolina State put the first points on the board. Sophomore guard Marcus Dockery (Washington) responded with a long two-pointer for the Bison, putting them on the scoreboard.
 
To open the game, play proved to be relatively back-and-forth on both ends. Both teams with several turnovers in the first plays of the game. Although play was back-and-forth, the Bison quickly stretched their lead to 10 points with seven minutes left in the first half.
 
Williams had a great shooting performance in the first half, shooting 67-percent from the field and 3-of-3 from the three-point line.
 
Coming out for the second half, the Bulldogs stayed close, remaining within a 5-point range, but the Bison maintained their rhythm regardless of the high pressure. As time went on, the Bulldogs seemed to creep closer and closer, which woke a response from the Bison.
 
Dockery contributed two major three-pointers to build the momentum for Howard, followed by a steal by junior forward Jordan Wood (San Antonio).
 
At the six-minute mark, the game quickly took a turn with only three points between the two teams. Williams drove to basket despite being double teamed, finishing a beautiful lay-up. Soon after, Williams executed a similar play, having a major role in the Bison's offense down the stretch.
 
With 2:30 to go in the game, South Carolina State minimized the deficit to just three points.
 
Freshman forward Shy Odom (Roxbury, Mass.) made two very important free throws for the Bison, bringing the lead back to five points.
 
On the other end, South Carolina State also made one of two free throws, bringing it back to a three-point game with one minute left.
 
Sophomore guard Elijah Hawkins (Washington) scored a floater because of crafty handles, bringing the lead back up to five points.
 
With eight seconds left, it is a two-point game. On an inbounding play, Dockery missed his three-point shot, but Odom was able to score on a put back to secure the win.
 
Odom finished with 17 points and six rebounds while Hawkins had 15 points. Dockery closely followed with 14 points.
 
Overall, the Bison shot 51-percent from the field.
 
For South Carolina State, Davion Everett produced 15 points and eight rebounds in the loss.
 
Thursday (March 2), the Bison will host Norfolk State in the last game of the regular season at 9 p.m. inside Burr Gymnasium. The game will be broadcasted on ESPNU.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.