DURHAM, N.C. (March 1, 2025)— Freshman standout Blake Harper (Washington) scored 16 of his game-high 23 points in the second half to lead four Bison in double figures but a late 9-2 run proved to be too much to overcome as the Howard University men's basketball team fell, 72-68, at North Carolina Central (NCCU) in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) showdown at McDougal-McLendon Arena.
 
The loss was the second straight for the Bison, who fell to 12-17 (7-5 MEAC). The Eagles improve 12-17 (5-7 MEAC), snapping a three-game losing skid.
 
Harper continues to show why he is the premier player in the league, finishing with 23 points, eight rebounds and five assists in 39 minutes of play.
 
The two teams battled back-and-forth early on with neither being able to provide separation. 
 
It remained close through most of the second half until the Eagles went on a 9-2 run to open up a 68-59 lead with 2:16 remaining. But Harper, regarded as one of the top freshmen in the country, helped his team to a 9-4 run over that span, knocking down a three pointer with four seconds remaining as time ran out.
 
It was a matchup between the Bison, who are the best three-point shooting team in the conference, and the Eagles, who lead the league in three-point percentage defense; thus, something had to give. NCCU limited Howard to 8-of-30 from beyond the arc for only 26-percent, 14-percentage points below their average.
 
Free throw shooting also played a role in the outcome. The Eagles had 37 attempts but made only 59-percent. The Bison, on the other hand, were able to stay close, converting on 14-of-16 for 88-percent. Harper, who ranks among the conference's leaders in free throw shooting, personally accounted for 9-of-10 from the charity stripe.
 
Graduate point guard Anwar Gill (Washington) contributed early with 10 points, but he was shackled with foul trouble for most of the second half, rendering him ineffective. Gill, who ranks among the league leaders in assists, was only credited with one. It also impacted the team's ability to spread the ball around. Howard came into the game ranking among the nation's best in assists per game. But with Gill in foul trouble, Howard committed 16 turnovers that the Eagles converted into 18 points.
 
Senior guard Marcus Dockery (Washington) added 11 points, almost five below his average. Graduate forward Cameron Shockley-Okeke (Norwalk, Conn.) tallied 10 points and graduate guard Jaren Johnson (Lynwood, Calif) grabbed a career-high nine rebounds in a losing cause.
 
NCCU was led by Po'Boigh King (20 points), Dionte Johnson (18 points) and Perry Smith Jr. (18 points & 10 rebounds).
 
NEXT UP: NCCU hosts Norfolk State Monday (March 3) at 7:30 p.m. Howard closes out its current four-game road swing at South Carolina State Monday (March 3) at 7:30 p.m.
 
For the latest updates, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.