WASHINGTON (January 19, 2024) – Howard University men's basketball team resumes Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play Saturday (Jan. 20), facing an important showdown against rival Norfolk State (NSU). Tipoff is set for 4 p.m., inside The Burr.
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
 
Bison Nation can follow all the action via live stats and/or live video. Chad Ricardo (play-by-play) and Amani Clark-Bey (color analyst) calling the action.
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
Saturday (Jan. 15), graduate forward Seth Towns (Columbus, Ohio) scored 13 of his game-high 27 points to guide the Howard University men's basketball team to a thrilling 78-72 victory over Morehouse College in the annual MLK Day Classic in Burr Gymnasium.
 
Towns made yet another strong case for MEAC Player of the Year, finishing with a double-double (27 points & 10 rebounds). Junior guard Marcus Dockery (Washington) finished with 16 points, followed by fellow classmate Bryce Harris (Brentwood, N.Y.) with 14 points. Second-year Bison Ose Okojie (Brampton, Canada) pulled down nine boards in the win.
 
MATCHUP PREVIEW
 
SERIES RECORD
 
On March 11, 2023, the two rivals met in the MEAC Tournament final where Howard came out on top, 65-64. It was the third straight win for the Bison against NSU, but the Spartans lead the series, 17-8, dating back to 2006 with 15 of the last 18 contests being decided by six points or less.
 
HOWARD
 
The Bison (8-11, 2-1 MEAC) are led by Towns (15.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 42 total assists,16 total steals, nine total blocked shots, 42 made three pointers & 82-percent from the free throw line), Harris (15.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg, team-leading 18 total blocks & 57-percent shooting from the floor), Dockery (13.0 ppg, 39 total assists, 17 total steals & team-leading 47 made three pointers) and sophomore forward Dom Campbell (8.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg & 55-percent from the field).
 
Dockery and Harris may be the most improved players on the team. Harris has doubled his scoring and rebounding averages from last year while Dockery has already surpassed his single season assists total (39), compared to only 31 all of last year.
 
The Bison bench has been tested this season with the rash of injuries. Sophomore forward Shy Odom (Roxbury, Mass.), the MEAC Preseason Player of the Year, has missed the last six games (back injury) and his availability is questionable as is that of All-MEAC graduate guard Jelani Williams (wrist injury).
 
The Bison may have the services of graduate guard Isiah Warfield (8.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg & 92-percent from the free throw line), who has been out for the past six games.
 
NORFOLK STATE
 
Norfolk State (11-8, 1-1 MEAC) is coming off a 118-73 home victory over the University of Virginia at Lynchburg Monday (Jan. 15).
 
The Spartans are led by junior guard Jamarii Thomas (17.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 69 total assists, 42 total steals & 85-percent from the free throw line), graduate guards Allen Betrand (11.0 ppg & 2.7 rpg) and Christian Ings (8.4 ppg & 31 total assists) and junior forward Kuleul Mading (6.2 ppg & 3.9 rpg & team-leading 18 total blocks).
 
The Spartans have had an equally challenging schedule, including Tennessee (SEC), VCU (Atlantic 10), UTEP (C-USA), Wichita State (AAC), Florida Gulf Coast (ASUN) and San Jose State (Mountain West).
 
MEAC NOTES
 
HOWARD
 
Howard leads the MEAC in field goal percentage (46-percent), three-point shooting (36-percent), three pointers made (7.8 per game) and field goal percentage defense (40 percent).
 
Individually, Towns leads the conference in three-point shooting (39-percent) and third in rebounding (6.7 per game), fourth in scoring (15.8 ppg), fifth in free throw shooting (85 percent) and eighth in assists.
 
Harris is a strong candidate for MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, topping the league in field goal percentage (57-percent) while ranking fifth in blocked shots, sixth in rebounding and scoring and ninth in free throw shooting (70-percent).
 
Dockery is second in three pointers made (2.5 per game) and 11^th in scoring (13.0 ppg). Sophomore forward Shy Odom (Roxbury, Mass.) is 10^th in assists.
 
NORFOLK STATE
 
The Spartans lead the conference in steals (8.8 per game) and free throw shooting (75-percent). Defensively, they rank second in defense (68.8 points allowed).
 
Individually, Jamarii Thomas is second in scoring (17.7 ppg), assists (3.8 per game) and steals. Junior guard Jaylani Dade is eighth in rebounding and junior forward Kuleul Mading fourth in blocked shots.
 
BISON NOTES
 

• Howard has had a challenging nonconference schedule with road games at Georgia Tech (ACC), James Madison (Sun Belt), Rutgers (Big Ten), Penn (Ivy League) and UC Santa Barbara (Big West). They have also hosted Cincinnati (Big 12) and Yale (Ivy League).
• The Bison have started 10 different starting lineups due to injuries.
• Seven Howard players have 10 or more steals.
• Harris has been named the MEAC Defensive Player of the Week twice and Towns was named MEAC Player of the Week once this season.
• The trio of Towns, Harris and Dockery have combined to carry the Howard offense, averaging 42 points and 16 rebounds between them.

NEXT UP
 
The Bison continue MEAC play when it travels to Baltimore to take on the Bears of Morgan State Saturday (Jan. 27) at 4 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.