CINCINNATI (December 8, 2024) – Freshman guard Blake Harper (Washington) continues to show why he is one of the top freshmen in the country as he recorded his first double-double with career highs in both scoring and rebounding, but some torrid second half shooting proved to be too much to overcome as the Howard University men's basketball team dropped an 84-67 to No. 14 Cincinnati at the Fifth Third Arena.
 
The loss was the fourth straight for the Bison.
 
A 6-foot-5 freshman from Gonzaga College High School in D.C., Harper hit on 8-of-16 from the floor and a perfect 7-of-7 from the charity stripe for a game-high 23 points, along with 10 rebounds. His first half scoring, alongside fellow D.C. native senior guard Marcus Dockery helped Howard (3-6) stay close at intermission, 36-32.
 
The Bearcats, ranked No. 14 in the latest polls, turned to the trio of Simas Lukosius, Aziz Bandaogo and Dillon Mitchell, who combined for 49 points on a sizzling 77-percent shooting display.
 
Cincinnati (7-1) shot a season-best 57-percent in the second half.
 
Howard was playing without the services of senior guard Bryce Harris (Brentwood, N.Y.), the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Preseason Player of the Year and a 1,000-point scorer. He missed his second game of the season and his status remains unknown.
 
The Bearcats were able hold the advantage by turning 24 points off the Bison turnovers while holding a 26-12 edge in bench points and a 52-30 advantage in points in the paint.
 
Dockery tallied 14 points and graduate guard Joshua Strong (Minneapolis) contributed nine points in a losing cause.
 
NEXT UP: Howard hosts Virginia-Lynchburg Wednesday (Dec. 11) at 7 p.m., inside Burr Gymnasium.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.