WASHINGTON (November 1, 2026) – Howard University men's basketball squad begins its 2026-27 season Monday night (Nov. 2), traveling to New Haven, Conn., to face Ivy League opponent Yale. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m., live on ESPN+.
 
GAME INFO
 
GAME 1
EVENT: Howard (Bison) at Yale (Bulldogs)
DATE: Monday, November 2, 2026
LOCATION: John J. Lee Amphitheater (2,800) in New Haven, Conn.
TIME: 7 p.m.
COVERAGE: ESPN+ and Live Stats
 
MATCHUP PREVIEW
 
HOWARD
 
The Bison captured the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Regular Season and Tournament titles with a 24-11 overall record (11-3 MEAC). They went on to win a first four NCAA tournament game against UMBC for the first time in school history before falling to eventual national champion, Michigan.
 
YALE
 
The Bulldogs finished 24-7 overall (11-3 Ivy League) and won the Ivy League title.
 
COACHES
 
HOWARD
 
The Bison are led by Kenneth Blakeney (Duke, '95), who is in his eighth season at the helm and has led the program to three NCAA appearances the past four years.
 
YALE
 
The Bulldogs are coached by the venerable James Jones (Albany, '86), who is in his 28^th season and the school's winningest coach with 442 wins.
 
KEY PLAYERS
 
HOWARD
 
The Bison are led by senior guard Cedric Taylor III (Atlanta), who was a first team all-conference selection and league defensive player of the year, averaging over 17 points and seven rebounds while blocking 29 shots.
 
Senior guard Cam Gillus (Falls Church, Va.) is the leader, averaging 11.0 points and 4.3 rebounds while leading the team in assists (164) and steals (60).
 
Gillus and Taylor are both on the preseason MEAC Watch list.
 
Howard also returns sharpshooter senior guard Alex Cotton (Carrollton, Texas), averaging 8.5 points while shooting 38-percent from three-point land.
 
Graduate guard Ose Okojie (Brampton, Canada) had his best season in a Howard uniform, averaging 11.0 points while shooting 55-percent from the floor.
 
Howard has 11 returning players.
 
YALE
 
The Bulldogs senior guard Trevin Mullen, who averaged 12.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, and junior forward Isaac Celiscar, who averaged 13.2 points.
 
Other players who figure to factor are Riley Fox (10.0 ppg), junior guard Jordan Braithwaite (6.5 ppg), Courtney Wallace and Daniel Ogunyomi.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
 
Yale has defeated the Bison in all five games that they have met.
 
The latest was a thrilling 87-81 in D.C. a year ago that propelled Howard's tournament run. In that game, Mullin led all scorers with 23 points and Nick Townsend with 18 points. Taylor led Howard with 18 points and Gillus tallied 14 points.
 
Two of the five games have been decided in overtime.
 
NEXT UP
 
The Bison continue their road trip when they travel to Lorman, Miss., to take on the Braves of Alcorn State Thursday, Nov. 5. Game-time at 7 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.