WASHINGTON (February 1, 2025) – Freshman standout Blake Harper (Washington) scored 29 of his career-high 35 points in the second half and overtime, but a rare four-point play by the Pirates' Wayne Bristol Jr., with eight seconds remaining gave Hampton a thrilling 80-79 win over the Howard University men's basketball team in a nonconference matchup at the Sports & Entertainment Arena in Southeast D.C.
 
It was the fourth straight loss for the Bison while the Pirates snapped a three-game losing skid.
 
Billed as the Battle of the Real HU Part II, the game lived up to its expectations. The Pirates had won the first match, 83-67, in Hampton, Va., but this version was an early slugfest as both teams played man-to-man defense that slowed the game down. The strategy gave a slight advantage to Hampton, which used its bench to take a 32-29 lead to the locker room.
 
The Pirates (11-12) seemed to find some rhythm with Geoge Beale Jr., and Noah Farrakhan, who helped their team to an early 8-2 run over the first six minutes that extended the lead to nine, 40-31.
 
During the second half, Howard had problems getting good looks and when they did, the shots that they normally make, did not fall.
 
Using their bench against the undermanned Bison, the Pirates maintained a double-digit lead for most of the second half, taking a 51-38 lead at the 8:10 mark.
 
Then Howard (8-13) woke up, inspired by the play of Harper and fellow D.C. native Marcus Dockery, and went on a 31-18 run that tied the game, 69-69, going into the extra frame.
 
Harper, a 6-foot-8 guard, scored in a variety of ways, mostly on moves in the paint that resulted in foul shots and continuations. The talented freshman forced Hampton big men into foul trouble as nothing seemed to work. For the game, Harper converted on a career-high 20-of-22 from the free throw line.
 
Dockery, who came into the game as the team's second-leading scorer (15.2 ppg), had also been stymied but he converted on a four-point play and a conventual three-point play during the Bison run.
 
In overtime, Howard appeared to have the momentum as two free throws by Harper helped his team to a 78-74 lead with 42 ticks left on the clock. The Pirates got a basket to get to within two, 78-76, at the 30-second mark.
 
Graduate forward Cameron Shockley-Okeke (Norwalk, Conn.), an 83-percent free throw shooter, made the first-of-two free throws to give Howard a 79-76 lead, but he missed the second and Hampton called a timeout to set up a play.
 
The Pirates worked the ball around before Bristol, who had scored only four points all night, launched a shot from 25 feet and was fouled to convert the four-point play.
 
Howard was able to get a potential game-winning shot by Harper, but failed; thus, Hampton escaped with the hard-fought win.
 
It was a gallant effort by the Bison, who shot the ball well and converted on a season-high 33-of-41 free throws for 81-percent, but there were two key factors that spoiled a valiant effort. The Bison turned the ball over 24 times and their bench was outscored, 50-20.
 
The consensus MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Rookie of the Year, Harper, and now a strong candidate for MEAC Player of the Year consideration added three rebounds and three assists to his stat line.
 
Dockery, who had four points at halftime, finished with 12 points and graduate guard Jaren Johnson (Lynwood, Calif.) contributed 11 points and four rebounds in the loss.
 
Hampton was led by Beale (28 points) and Farrakhan (16 points).
 
NEXT UP: Howard must have a short memory when it gets ready for South Carolina State Monday (Feb. 3) at 7:30 p.m., at Burr Gymnasium.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.