DURHAM, N.C. (January 17, 2026) – Graduate guard Bryce Harris (Brentwood, N.Y.) scored a team-high 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead four Bison in double figures as the Howard University men's basketball used a second-half scoring surge to down North Carolina Central University (NCCU), 83-69, in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) showdown at McDougal-McLendon Arena.
 
HU won its second straight conference game, moving to .500 (2-2) in league play and 11-8 overall.   
 
Harris, a strong candidate for MEAC Player of the Year, had struggled of late, battling some nagging injuries. In conference, he came into the game second in scoring and rebounding. But in the last four games, he has reached double figures only once, shooting 9-of-43 for a little over 7.0 points per game. But he showed that when he is healthy, he is a force to be reckoned with.
 
The 6-foot-4 guard connected on 7-of-13 from the field, adding four assists and a blocked shot.
 
The Eagles came into the game as one of the hottest team in the MEAC, riding a three-game win streak while averaging over 80.0 points during that stretch.
 
They controlled the tempo through most of the first half until the Bison went on a 9-0 run to take a 35-32 lead to the locker room.
 
From there, Harris and his teammates put on an offensive display, shooting a blistering 66-percent (19-of-29) in the second stanza that turned into an equal opportunity fest.
 
Senior guard Ose Okojie (Brampton, Canada) continues to surprise with his best offensive production since coming to The Hilltop four years ago. Regarded as an outstanding defender, the 6-foot-5 wing finished with 19 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the floor. In the past four games, Okojie has connected on 21-of-36 from the field.
 
Junior guard transfer Cedric Taylor III (Atlanta) missed the first 11 games of the season due to a hand injury, but he has come on strong of late. He finished with 17 points on 7-of-13 marksmanship while also finding time to drop four dimes to teammates. In the past three games, he is 13-of-25 from the floor with nine assists.
 
And then there was sophomore forward Travelle Bryson (Anderson, S.C.), who is coming off a 19-point performance in the win over Delaware State Monday (Jan. 12). A transfer from Vincennes, Bryson contributed 15 points, six rebounds and four steals to his stat line. He has also been impressive, connecting on 19-of-35 from the filed for 49 points during a three-game stretch.
 
Howard had struggled in its three-point shooting but it was able find its range as it connected on 10-of-26 from downtown for 39-percent against NCCU.
 
For the game, the Bison held a 43-31 rebounding advantage, 48-25 in the paint and 21-8 in second chance points.
 
The Eagles (7-12, 3-1 MEAC) were led by Takeo Carpenter, who led all scorers with 21 points. Gage Latimore added 14 points, followed by Khouri Garvey and Jae Slack each with 10 points. Dionte Johnson registered nine dimes and six points in a losing cause.
 
NEXT UP: Howard has little time to celebrate as it turns around and faces the Maroon Tigers of Morehouse College Monday (Jan. 19) in the annual MLK Day Classic at 4 p.m., inside Burr Gymnasium.
 
For more information, visit the official Howard Athletics website www.hubison.com.