WASHINGTON (December 12, 2025) – Howard University men's basketball team looks to extend its win streak Saturday (Dec. 13) against rival Hampton in the next installment of the Battle of the Real HU. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m., inside CareFirst Arena in Southeast D.C.    
 
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COACHES
 
Hampton is coached by Ivan Thomas (VCU, '97), who is in his third season. Howard is led by Kenneth Blakeney (Duke, '95), who is in his seventh season.
 
SERIES RECORD
 
Since becoming a NCAA Division I program, the series has favored Hampton. The Pirates are 44-8 against the Bison since the 1995-96 campaign. The Pirates lead the series overall, 64-29.
 
A year ago, the Pirates won, 80-79, in an overtime thriller at the Care First Arena. It was their third win in a row over the Bison, but the two rivals have split the last six matchups.
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
HAMPTON
 
On Dec. 3, Hampton (5-5) connected on 29-of-50 shots, including 10-of-17 from beyond the arc in the win over Loyola (Md.). Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt led a balanced attack with 23 points and Michael Eley added 19 points in the victory.
 
HOWARD
 
Tuesday (Dec. 9), guards Bryce Harris (Brentwood, N.Y.) and Cam Gillus (Falls Church, Va.) and center Danas Kazakevicius (Vilnius, Lithuania) each scored 19 points to help the Bison (6-5) hold off North Carolina A&T State, 73-69, in a nonconference showdown at Cameroon Indoor Stadium.
 
PROBABLE STARTERS/KEY RESERVES
 
HAMPTON PROBABLE STARTERS
 
No.      Name                          Class                Position           2025-26 Stats                                    
2          Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt    Junior              Guard              10.2 ppg & team-leading 31 assists
3          Michael Eley                Senior              Guard              11.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg & 51-percent FG%
25        Xzavier Long                Senior              Forward           10.3 ppg & 10.5 rpg
11        Daniel Johnson            Sophomore    Guard               11.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg & 40-percent 3PT%
23        Josh Ogundele             Graduate         Forward           5.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg & 50-percent FG%
 
HAMPTON KEY RESERVES
 
No.      Name                          Class                Position           2025-26 Stats                                    
1          Christian Watson        Senior              Wing                5.4 ppg & 2.6 rpg
8          Elijah Kenner               Senior              Guard              5.3 ppg
 
HOWARD PROBABLE STARTERS
 
No.      Name                          Class                Position           2025-26 Stats                                    
34        Bryce Harris                 Graduate         Guard               20.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg & 48-percent FG%
11        Ose Okojie                   Senior              Forward          7.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg & 62-percent FG%
4          Alex Cotton                 Junior              Guard               11.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg & 40-percent 3PT%
13        Danas Kazakevicius    Freshman        Center             7.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg & 56-percent FG%
2          Cam Gillus                   Junior              Guard               10.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg & 41 assists
 
HOWARD KEY RESERVES
 
No.      Name                          Class                Position           2025-26 Stats                                    
32        Travelle Bryson           Sophomore     Forward          9.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg & 86-percent FT%
23        Ed Holland III               Junior              Forward           3.2 ppg & 2.4 rpg
 
GAME NOTES
 
HAMPTON
 
The Pirates come into the game with a three-game win streak…On the season, Hampton is averaging 74 points per game, shooting 44-percent from the floor but only 31-percent from three-point range…The Pirates are out rebounding their opponents (+4.0)…The Hampton's Achilles Heel has been at the free throw line where they are connecting on 68-percent…In the CAA (Coastal Athletic Association), Hampton is second in defensive scoring (67. 6 ppg), fourth in defense (allowing 41-percent shooting) and three-point defense (31-percent) and fifth in blocked shots…Xzavier Long leads the conference in rebounding (10.5)…Gaines-Wyatt is eighth assists and ninth in steals…The Pirates have some local ties: Long; Aidan Hawkins and Quintin Cooper all played their prep ball in the DMV area.
 
HOWARD
 
Harris has established himself as one of the best players in the country…Nationally, Harris is currently ranked ninth in points, tied for 11^th in free throw attempts and tied for 13^th in free throws made…In the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference), Harris is a the frontrunner for MEAC Player of the Year after leading the conference in scoring and rebounding…Junior guard Alex Cotton (Carrollton, Texas) ranks second in three-point shooting percentage and three pointers made per game…Gillus is third in assists and steals and sixth in free throw shooting…Freshman guard Jeremiah Johnson (Potomac, Md.) is second in steals…Howard is averaging 7.3 three-point field goals made per game and shooting almost 40-percent from beyond the arc…The Bison are doing it with their sharing of the ball (16 assists per game) and the takeaways (9.6 steals & 20 points off opponents' turnovers)…Senior guard Ose Okojie (Brampton, Canada) has been a pleasant surprise after missing much of the past two seasons with various medical issues, having his best scoring season in a Bison uniform…Sophomore forward Travelle Bryson (Anderson, S.C.), who has been a major contributor for Howard off the bench, has missed the past two games.
 
NEXT UP
 
Hampton travels to Atlanta where it will take on Jackson State Thursday (Dec. 18) at 5 p.m. Howard travels to the City of Brotherly Love (Philadelphia) to face Drexel (Dec. 16) at 11 a.m.
 
For more information, visit the official Howard Athletics website www.hubison.com.