WASHINGTON (February 9, 2026) --The Howard University men's basketball team had victory in hand, leading, 71-68, with 1:23 remaining in regulation, but a second chance opportunity resulted in a Jordan Braithwaite three-pointer that sent the game into overtime and propelled Yale to an 87-81 win over the Bison in a thrilling nonconference game at Burr Gymnasium.
The loss snapped a three-game win streak for Howard.
It was an epic battle that resembled more of a tournament game in March than a regular season nonconference tilt. In the first half alone, there were six lead changes and three ties.
The Bulldogs, one of the top three three-point shooting teams in the nation, connected on 5-of-14 while the Bison were 4-of-9 in the shootout.
Graduate guard
Bryce Harris (Brentwood, N.Y.) and junior guard
Cedric Taylor III (Atlanta) combined for 15 of their team's points as they trailed, 38-32.
Yale rode the balanced scoring of Aletan Samson and Trevin Mullin, who each scored nine points.
The best was yet to come as Yale and Howard are regarded as two of the best mid majors in college basketball and they showed why in this high-level duel.
They went back-and-forth, each taking small leads. Yale twice led by eight and threatened to build a double digit, but the determined Bison had an answer each time.
Taylor and Harris combined for 17 second-half points.
Junior guard
Cam Gillus (Falls Church, Va.) had perhaps his best all-around game at Howard since transferring from Lehigh, hitting some clutch shots with the shot clock winding down.
Fellow classmate guard
Alex Cotton (Carrollton, Texas) came alive in the second stanza, scoring all of his nine points after going scoreless in the first 20 minutes.
Taylor's two free throws with 2:00 remaining gave Howard a 68-62 lead. But Taylor, who sat out much of the second half, would pick up his fifth foul a few seconds later.
YaIe's Isaac Celiscar converted on one-of-two free throws to maintain the two-possession lead, 69-63, with 1:33 remaining.
Mullin nailed a three-pointer to cut the lead to a one-possession contest, 69-66, with 1:22 on the clock.
Howard redshirt freshman guard
Isaiah Brown (Ramsey, N.J.) would later knock down two free throws sandwiched around two free throws by Mullin to make the score 71-68 in favor of Howard with 15.7 seconds left on the clock.
On the Bulldogs' possession, their three-point attempt went awry but Townsend dug out a second possession and Braithwaite knocked down the bomb with two ticks on the clock. Before the shot, Braithwaite was 0-for-3 from beyond the arc.
The Bison were unable to get off a shot, so the game went into an extra stanza.
Without the services of Taylor, the Bison were missing an important option and the Bulldogs capitalized, outscoring the hosts, 16-10, to come away with the hard-fought victory.
Taylor finished with a game-high 18 points despite playing only 28 minutes due to foul trouble, Harris tallied 14 points, six rebounds, two assists and a block while logging 43 minutes.
Gillus scored 14 points and finished with five assists and only one turnover in 38 minutes of play.
Cotton, senior guard
Ose Okojie (Brampton, Canada) and sophomore reserve forward
Travelle Bryson (Anderson, S.C.) each tallied nine points.
The Bulldogs placed five players in double fogies, led by Mullin with 23 points, Nick Townsend (18 points), Simmons (14 points), Aletan (13 points) and Celiscar (12 points).
Yale came into the game leading the nation in three-point shooting at 41-percent, but the Bison defense limited them to 8-of-24 for 33-percent. The Bulldogs held a commanding 43-28 rebounding advantage and went to the free throw line 34 times, but the Bison forced them into an uncharacteristic 15 turnovers (they came into the game averaging only 8.0 per game).
Howard was credited with 15 assists on 29 made baskets.
NEXT UP: Howard returns to MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) action Saturday (Feb. 14) when it will host Maryland Eastern Shore at 4:30 p.m., inside Burr Gymnasium.
For more information, visit the official Howard Athletics website
www.hubison.com.
