WASHINGTON (January 5, 2024) – Howard University men's basketball team opens Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play in Durham, N.C., against the North Carolina Central (NCCU) Eagles. Tipoff is set for noon.
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LAST TIMEOUT
Howard fought back from a 16-point second half deficit--using a 22-6 run--to send the game in overtime but the Bison ran out of gas, falling, 86-78, to Yale in a nonconference game at Burr Gymnasium.
Junior guard
Marcus Dockery (Washington) tallied a team-high 21 points. Fellow classmate
Bryce Harris (Brentwood, N.Y.) netted 18 points while graduate forward
Seth Towns (Columbus, Ohio) and graduate guard
Joshua Strong (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) contributed 17 points and 10 points, respectively.
The Bison got a boost from the play of redshirt sophomore forward
Miles Stewart (four rebounds in 11 minutes of play) and sophomore guard
Ose Okojie (seven points, five rebounds & three assists).
MATCHUP PREVIEW
SERIES RECORD
The Eagles prevailed, 68-60, in Durham (Feb. 25, 2023) during their last meeting to snap a three-game losing streak to Howard.
The two have split the past eight meetings (4-4).
HOWARD
The Bison (5-10, 0-0 MEAC) are led by Towns (15.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg & 42-percent from three), Harris (14.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 16 total blocks & 12 total steals), Dockery (13.8 ppg, 41-percent from three & 40 made three pointers), Warfield (8.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg & 92-percent from the free throw line) and Odom (8.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg & eight total blocks).
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL
NCCU (8-7 overall, 0-0 MEAC) is coming off a 112-70 victory over Truett McConnell at home Wednesday (Jan. 3).
The Eagles are led by senior guard Fred Cleveland, Jr. (15.7 ppg, 61 total assists & 20 total steals), redshirt senior guard Ja'Darius Harris (15.1 ppg), sophomore guard Po'Boigh King (13.4 ppg & 4.6 rpg) and sophomore forward Perry Smith, Jr. (6.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg & 11 total blocks).
MEAC NOTES
HOWARD
Howard leads the conference in field goal percentage (46-percent), three-point shooting (37-percent), three pointers made (8.0 per game). They are second in scoring (77.1 ppg) and assists (13.9 per game).
Individually, Towns is making an early bid for MEAC Player of the Year consideration. He leads the conference in three-point shooting (42-percent) and second in three pointers made and rebounding (6.8 rpg).
Harris, a strong candidate for MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, ranks first in field goal percentage while third in blocked shots.
Dockery leads the league in three pointers made and second in three-point shooting (41-percent) and MEAC Preseason Player of the Year sophomore forward
Shy Odom (Roxbury, Mass.) is 10
th in assists.
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL
NCCU ranks high in several MEAC statistical categories. The Eagles lead the conference in scoring (77.9 ppg), three-point shooting defense (27-percent) and assist/turnover ratio. They rank second in scoring defense (68.0 ppg), field goal percentage (45-percent), field goal percentage defense (41-percent) and blocked shots (3.3 per game).
Individually, Cleveland leads the MEAC in assists while third in assists/turnover ratio and three pointers made. Harris is second in free throw shooting (86-percent) and field goal percentage (48-percent). King is 10
th in scoring and Emmanuel Izunabor leads the MEAC in blocks with 1.4 per game.
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 11 different starting lineups due to injuries.
NEXT UP
The Bison continue MEAC play Monday (Jan. 8) when they travel to Orangeburg, S.C., to take on the Bulldogs of South Carolina State. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at
www.HUBison.com.
