WASHINGTON (March 12, 2024) – No. 4 Howard University men's basketball team begins its title defense Thursday (March 14) against beltway rival Morgan State (MSU) in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Quarterfinals. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m., inside the Norfolk Scope Arena.
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
 
Bison Nation can follow all the action via live stats and/or ESPN+. Fans can also tune into the Bison Sports Radio Network with Trevin A. Jones (play-by-play).
 
LAST MATCHUPS
 
Both squads split during the regular season (1-1), each protecting home court.
 
On Jan. 27, the Bison placed four players in double figures, but it could not offset the free throw shooting of MSU, falling, 85-79, to the Bears at the Hill Field House.
 
Nearly a month later (Feb. 24), sophomore forward Shy Odom (Roxbury, Mass.) came off the bench to score 15 of his game-high 16 points in the second half to lead five players in double figures as the Bison outlasted Morgan State, 78-72, at Burr Gymnasium.
 
MATCHUP PREVIEW
 
SERIES RECORD
 
The two teams split during the regular season with Morgan State winning 85-79 at home (Jan. 27) and the Bison winning, 78-72, at The Burr (Feb. 24).
 
Howard holds a slim, 12-11, advantage in the series since 2006.
 
HOWARD
 
The Bison (15-16) come in as the No. 4 seed after having their four-game win streak snapped with a season-ending loss at top-seeded Norfolk State Thursday (March 7).
 
Howard is led by junior guard Bryce Harris (16.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 28 total blocks, 33 total steals, 56-percent shooting from the field & 41-percent from three point), graduate forward Seth Towns (14.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 69 total assists, 28 total steals, 13 blocked shots, 63 made three pointers, 84-percent from the free throw line), junior guard Marcus Dockery (13.5 ppg, career-high 57 total assists, 28 total steals, team-leading 84 made three pointers, 40-percent from three & 84-percent from the free throw line) and Odom (8.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg & 50-percent shooting from the field in 17 games) and forward Dom Campbell (8.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg & 50-percent from the field) and graduate guard Jordan Hairston (5.2 ppg, 36-percent from three & 83-percent from the free throw line).
 
MORGAN STATE
 
Morgan State (6-10), the No. 5 seed, is coming off a 78-60 home win over Coppin State Saturday (March 2) for the second in a row to end the season.
 
The Bears are led by redshirt senior guard Wynston Tabbs (15.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg & 88-percent free throw shooting & 34-percent from three), redshirt junior forward Will Thomas (13.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 47-percent from the field & 85-percent from the free throw line), redshirt junior guard Kamron Hobbs (10.2 ppg, team-leading 101 total assists and total steals (29) and junior forward Allen Udemadu (7.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg & team-leading 30 total blocks).
 
MEAC NOTES
 
HOWARD
 
The Bison lead MEAC in three-point shooting (37-percent), three pointers made (8.0 per game) and assists (14.0 per game).
 
Individually, Harris is No. 1 in field goal percentage (56-percent), sixth in blocked shots, second in rebounding, third in scoring and 12^th in free throw shooting (75-percent).
 
Towns is third in three-point shooting (36-percent), fifth in rebounding, seventh in assists, ninth in scoring, fifth in free throw shooting (83-percent).
 
The sharpshooting Dockery has led the MEAC in three pointers made (2.7 and three-point shooting all season (40-percent).
 
MORGAN STATE
 
The Bears lead the MEAC in free throw shooting (76-percent) and second in blocked shots (3.4).
 
Individually, Tabbs leads the MEAC in free throw shooting (89-percent), sixth in scoring and field goal parentage (45-percent) and 10^th in steals.
 
Hobbs is second in assist/turnover ratio, fourth in overall assists and eighth in three-point shooting.
 
Thomas is second in field goal percentage (47-percent) and Udemadu is second in blocked shots and third in rebounding.
 
GAME NOTES

• Howard has played 13 different starting lineups due to a plethora of injuries during the season. Consequently, the trio of Harris, Towns and Dockery rank in the Top 9 in the conference in minutes played, ranking between 31 and 34 minutes.
• Harris has recorded 67 dunks this season and has 11 double doubles. He has scored in double figures in all but three games this season.
• Hairston has really come on strong of late, scoring in double figures in five of the last six games, going 15-of-29 from three during the stretch.
• After missing 12 games this season, Odom is beginning to show his value to the team with his all-around skills. The MEAC Preseason Player of the Year has missed 12 games on the season, including 11 straight.

 
NEXT UP
 
The winner advances to Friday's (March 15) semifinal round.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.