HAMPTON, Va. (December 28, 2024) — Freshman guard Blake Harper (Washington) poured a career-high 34 points but only one other Bison reached double figures as the short-handed Howard University men's basketball team fell, 83-67, at Hampton University in the HBCU Showcase at the Hampton Convocation Center.
 
It was the Bison's second straight setback.
 
A 6-foot-8 freshman from Gonzaga College High School in D.C., Harper connected on 10-of-18 from the floor while also setting new career marks in free throws made (12) and attempted (15). The seven-time MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Rookie of the Week continues to show why he is regarded as one of the best first-year players in the country.
 
The Bison (5-8) trailed only eight points, 31-23, at the half despite shooting 39-percent from the floor.
 
Taking advantage of the injury-depleted Bison, who played without starters senior guard Bryce Harris (Brentwood, N.Y.) and junior forward Dom Campbell (Scarborough, Maine) and reserve forward Ose Okojie (Brampton, Canada), the Pirates utilized their bench to make a difference in the second half. Harris, the MEAC Preseason Player of Year has missed the past five games, along with Campbell and Okojie. The trio combine to average for 30 points and 14 rebounds among them.
 
Hampton (8-5) got 24 points between reserves George Beal Jr. (13 points) and Kyrese Mullen (11 points) as the Pirates held a whopping 38-14 advantage in bench points.
 
Howard was able to shoot better in the second at a 50-percent clip, but it was not enough to offset the shooting Hampton, which connected on 60-percent (14-of-23), including 7-of-14 from three-point range in the second stanza.
 
Graduate guard Cameron Shockley-Okeke (Norwalk, Conn.) came off the Bison bench to tally 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the floor. He and Harper combined to connect on 14-of-25 but the rest of the team missed 22-of-30 shots.
 
Graduate guard Anwar Gill (Washington) had a steady game eight points, six rebounds and three assists while fellow D.C. native senior guard Marcus Dockery finished with nine points, five rebounds and three assists in the loss.
 
Hampton was led in scoring by former Howard guard Wayne Bristol Jr., with 18 points and Noah Farrakhan, who contributed 17 points and seven assists.
 
NEXT UP: Howard travels to New Haven, Conn., to play Yale University on New Year's Day (Jan. 1). The showdown is set for 1 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.