title image via Rodney Pierce
Courtesy of Ed Hill, Jr., retired Howard University Sports Information Director
Howard University men’s basketball team begins its four-game homestand Saturday (Feb. 17) when they host rival North Carolina Central (NCCU) in a pivotal Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) showdown inside The Burr. Tipoff is slated for 4 p.m.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Bison Nation can follow all the action via live stats and/or ESPN+.
LAST TIMEOUT
On Feb. 5, junior guard Bryce Harris (Brentwood, N.Y.) scored 17 of his game-high 23 points in the second half and fellow classmate guard Marcus Dockery(Washington) added 21 points, but it was some key plays by graduate forward Seth Towns (Columbus, Ohio) and clutch free throw shooting by graduate guard Isiah Warfield (Monaca, Pa.) that helped the Bison hold off Delaware State, 75-71, in a wild and exciting MEAC showdown at Memorial Hall.
LAST MATCHUP
On Jan. 6, the Bison dropped its MEAC opener at NCCU, 73-54, inside the McDougald-McLendon Arena.
Harris and sophomore forward Dom Campbell(Scarborough, Maine) led the way. Harris recorded his second double-double of the season (21 points & 10 rebounds) while the Maine native had his best game as a Bison, producing 18 points (season-high), including a perfect 6-of-6 from the field, and eight boards in the loss.
Four Eagles reached double figures in scoring, led by Fred Cleveland, Jr., with a game-high 24 points. Ja’Darius Harris netted 21 points while Po’Boigh King and Timmy Adedire added 12 points and 11 points, respectively, in the victory.
MATCHUP PREVIEW
This is a pivotal matchup. NCCU is tied with Norfolk State at 5-2 in the conference standings. Howard, Morgan State and surprising South Carolina State are just behind at 4-3 with the second half of the season beginning.
SERIES RECORD
The Eagles prevailed, 73-54, in the MEAC opener in Durham (Jan. 6) in the last meeting for their second straight in the series.
NCCU holds a 5-4 advantage in the last nine meetings between the two.
HOWARD
The Bison (10-14, 4-3 MEAC) defeated Delaware State, 75-71, in Dover, Del. (Feb. 5) that snapped a two-game losing streak.
Howard is led by Towns (15.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 49 three pointers made, 52 total assists & 82-percent from the free throw line), Harris (16.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 22 total blocks, 21 total steals & 57-percent shooting from the field), Dockery (13.3 ppg, 40-percent from three, 63 made three pointers & career-high 42 total assists), Warfield (7.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 89-percent from the free throw line & 44 total assists) and Campbell (7.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg & 49 percent from the field).
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL
NCCU (13-9, 5-2 MEAC) is coming off a 79-72 home loss to Morgan State (Feb. 5) that snapped a three-game win streak.
The Eagles are led by Cleveland, Jr. (14.9 ppg, 100 total assists, 32 total steals, 40 made three pointers & 80-percent from the free throw line), Harris (15.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg & 85-percent from the free throw line), King (14.2 ppg & 4.9 rpg), Emmanuel Izuabor (4.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg & 21 total blocks) and sophomore forward Perry Smith, Jr. (6.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg & 11 total blocks).
MEAC STATS
HOWARD
Howard leads the conference in three-point shooting (36-percent) and three pointers made (7.8 per game).
Individually, Towns is making a strong bid for MEAC Offensive Player of the Year. He is third in three pointers made, fourth in free throw shooting, fifth in rebounding, seventh in scoring and assists and 12th in blocked shots.
Harris, a strong candidate for both MEAC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, ranks first in shooting (57-percent from the field), second in rebounding, fourth in scoring and fifth in blocks.
Dockery is having his best season in a Bison uniform, leading the MEAC in three-point shooting (36-percent) and three pointers made (2.6 per game) and 11th in scoring.
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL
The Eagles lead the conference in scoring (75.0 ppg), team defense (66 ppg allowed), three-point shooting defense (25-percent), scoring margin (8.4 ppg) and assist/turnover ratio.
Individually, Harris is third in field goal shooting (47-percent), free throw shooting (84-percent) and fifth in scoring.
Cleveland, Jr., is second in three-point shooting and three pointers made (2.5 per game), third in assists/turnover ratio, fourth in steals, seventh in free throw shooting (80-percent), eighth in scoring and first in assists.
King ranks fifth in field goal shooting (43-percent), ninth in scoring and eighth in steals).
Izuabor is third in blocked shots.
BISON NOTES
- The Bison have started 10 different starting lineups due to a rash of injuries
- Eight different Bison players have 13 or more steals.
