WASHINGTON (January 24, 2026) – Junior guard Cedric Taylor III (Atlanta) scored a career-high 29 points and graduate guard Bryce Harris (Brentwood, N.Y.) had one of his best efforts in recent weeks with a double-double, but in the end, missed free throws and a crucial turnover proved to be the deciding factor as the Howard University men's basketball team fell, 78-77, to Morgan State University in a thrilling Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) showdown at Burr Gymnasium.
 
The loss snapped a win streak for the Bison while the Bears extended their streak to three.
 
It was Harris who set the tone early for Howard, scoring 10 of the team's first 14 points. The Bears countered with Alfred Worrell Jr., and Rob Lawson, who combined for 25 of their team's points as the Bison took a 42-36 lead to the locker room.
 
Then Taylor began to assert himself, scoring in a variety of ways. He was so dominant that he scored 12 of his team's 14 points during a four-minute stretch. A transfer from Morehouse College, the Atlanta native tallied 18 of his points in the second half.
 
Howard began threatened to pull away during a second half run that opened a 10-point lead, 67-57, the largest of the game at the 6:29 mark. But the determined Bears refused to wilt and chipped away at the Bison lead, courtesy Elijah Davis, who tallied 14 of his 16 points in the second half and Lawson contributed 14 points in the back-and-forth affair over the last three minutes.
 
Howard appeared to have some breathing room when it opened a 72-65 lead at the 3:21 mark.
 
Then Lawson, Davis and Worrell combined for nine points during a 9-2 run that tied the game, 74-74.
 
The Bison contributed to the Bears' surge by missing three key free throws that would have made it a two -possession game late.
 
Both teams exchanged baskets to make the score 76-76. The Bison took made one of two free throws to make it 77-76 lead with 18 seconds on the clock.
 
Morgan State attempted a game-winning shot that was defended by the Bison's Taylor. Howard was awarded possession with 8.8 seconds under the Bears basket.
 
Following a Bison timeout, Howard made an inbound pass to junior guard Alex Cotton (Carrollton, Texas), but he slipped and lost the ball out of bounds, giving possession to the Bears. Morgan State inbounded to Eugene Alvin for the go-ahead layup with only six second left, 78-77.
 
Following a timeout, the Bison moved the ball quickly up the court and junior guard Cam Gillus (Falls Church, Va.) launched a potential game winner from 23 feet that fell short as the Bears celebrated the victory as if they had won a national championship.
 
For the second straight meeting between the two Beltway rivals, it had come down to a one-point win by the Bears. Last season, Morgan State prevailed, 91-90, in the MEAC Tournament. Seven-of-the-last-eight meeting between these two have been decided by six points or less.
 
Taylor, who flirted with a triple-double in the last game against Morehouse (Jan. 19), added six rebounds, two assists and two blocks during his 33-plus minutes on the night.
 
Harris came into the game averaging almost 18.0 points per game but had struggled of late, reaching double figures in only one-of-the-last-five games. The New York product grabbed 11 rebounds, converted on 12-of-13 of free throws and had three steals in almost 35 minutes of playing time.
 
Cotton came off the bench to score 11 of his 14 points in the first half.
 
Sophomore forward Travelle Bryson (Anderson, S.C.) and senior guard Ose Okojie (Brampton, Canada), who are combining for 22.0 points between them on the season, finished with four points.
 
The Bears were led by Lawson with 24 points, followed by Worrell (23 points). Davis added 16 points and seven assists.
 
Howard came into the game with an outstanding assists/turnover ratio but uncharacteristically, they committed 17 miscues, which Morgan State converted into 20 points.
 
For the game, the Bison shot a season-high 32-of-40 from the charity stripe for 80-percent but they missed three-of-five down the stretch.
 
NEXT UP: Howard hosts Norfolk State, the defending MEAC Champion and preseason favorite, Saturday (Jan. 31) at 4 p.m., inside Burr Gymnasium.
 
For more information, visit the official Howard Athletics website www.hubison.com.