Howard University Triumphs in MEAC Championship
In a thrilling conclusion to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship, top-seeded Howard University secured their spot in the NCAA Tournament with a 70-63 victory over the third-seeded North Carolina Central University. The game took place in Norfolk, Virginia, where Howard, boasting a season record of 23-10, demonstrated resilience after leading by just three points at halftime (26-23).
Second Half Surge
The Bison surged out of the locker room following halftime, launching an impressive 15-1 run that propelled them to a commanding 41-24 lead with 16:18 left in the contest, effectively distancing themselves from their opponents. This strong performance ensured that they would not surrender their lead for the remainder of the match.
Key Performers
Key contributions came from Howard’s Cam Gillus, Ose Okojie, and Bryce Harris, each contributing 14 points to the scoreboard. Additionally, Cedric Taylor III reinforced the team with 13 points and an impressive 12 rebounds, while Harris also grabbed 10 rebounds, showcasing the team’s solid rebounding effort.
N.C. Central’s Efforts
On the opposing side, N.C. Central (14-18) fought valiantly to close the gap, managing to reduce the Bison’s lead to as little as six points late in the game after a three-pointer from Dionte Johnson brought the score to 58-52 with just under five minutes to play. Despite their efforts, Howard maintained control, effectively closing the game at the free-throw line, where they excelled by sinking 27 of their 35 attempts.
Individual Highlights
Johnson emerged as the leading scorer for the Eagles with 14 points and seven rebounds, while teammates Gage Lattimore and Kelechi Okworogwo added 12 and 11 points, respectively. Jae Slack contributed another 11 points off the bench. However, the Eagles struggled with ball security, committing 13 turnovers throughout the game.
Looking Ahead
With this victory, Howard not only claimed their third MEAC Tournament title in recent years but also earned an automatic qualification to the NCAA Division I Tournament, which commences next week. Their next matchup and seeding will be revealed on Sunday, with the tournament kicking off with the First Four events on Tuesday.
