If you are a fan of college basketball, you already know that March is synonymous with magic. But for the Howard University Bison, Tuesday delivered a moment that goes far beyond a typical Cinderella story. It was a milestone decades in the making. In a thrilling 86-83 victory over the UMBC Retrievers during the First Four in Dayton, Ohio, the Bison secured their first-ever NCAA Tournament win in program history.
Let’s be honest: heading into this matchup, the tension was palpable. Howard entered with a 0-4 all-time record in March Madness, carrying the weight of past disappointments but also the fierce pride of the MEAC. On the other side stood UMBC, a program forever etched in NCAA lore for its historic 16-over-1 upset in 2018, and they were riding a massive 12-game winning streak.
Here is a breakdown of exactly how Howard silenced the noise, weathered the storm, and etched their names into the history books.
The Opening Statement: Setting the Tone Early
Howard didn’t just show up to participate; they showed up to dictate the pace. Midway through the first half, the Bison unleashed a punishing 12-0 run that flipped an early deficit into a commanding lead.
The undisputed spark plug of the first half was Ose Okojie. Okojie was an absolute revelation, pouring in 16 of his career-high 23 points before the halftime buzzer even sounded. The Bison offense was clicking on all cylinders, shooting 16-of-31 from the field, and playing with a level of physicality that UMBC struggled to match. By the time they headed into the locker room with a 49-41 advantage, Howard had made one thing crystal clear: they weren’t intimidated by the bright lights.
Weathering the Storm: The Second Half Grind
Basketball is a game of runs, and UMBC is simply too good a team to roll over. As the second half progressed, the Retrievers dialed up the defensive pressure. To make matters more stressful for Bison fans, Okojie picked up his fourth foul with over 12 minutes still left on the clock.
This is where the true character of Kenneth Blakeney’s squad was tested. Instead of folding, Howard dug deep. When UMBC started to close the gap, Alex Cotton delivered a massive momentum-halting three-pointer. Not long after, Bryce Harris—the MEAC Player of the Year—drilled a crucial shot from deep to keep the Retrievers at bay. Cedric Taylor III was also a steadying force, methodically punishing UMBC with a 9-for-10 performance from the free-throw line to maintain the edge.
A Heart-Stopping Finish
You can’t have a true March Madness classic without some late-game anxiety. In the final two minutes, UMBC mounted a desperate rally. DJ Armstrong Jr. sank a clutch three-pointer with just 43 seconds left, slicing Howard’s lead to a terrifyingly thin two points (83-81).
With the game hanging in the balance and the shot clock winding down, Howard needed a hero. Enter Bryce Harris. With just 13 seconds remaining, Harris rose up and sank a heavily contested turnaround jumper to push the lead to four. UMBC managed a quick layup to cut it back to two, but Isaiah Brown calmly split a pair of free throws, and a final desperation heave from UMBC’s Armstrong Jr. missed the mark.
The Cultural and Financial Impact
This victory is monumental for Howard, but its ripple effects will be felt across the entire landscape of HBCU athletics. By securing this win, Howard joins an elite and exclusive list of HBCU programs—including Texas Southern, Norfolk State, and Grambling State—to claim a First Four victory.
Furthermore, this win brings a massive financial victory to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Earning an NCAA tournament unit translates to roughly $2.1 million in payouts over the next six years, providing vital resources to help elevate the conference as a whole.
Looking Ahead
Coach Kenneth Blakeney said it best post-game: “We’ve done a lot of things in our program, but let’s check off the box of winning an NCAA game today.” Now, the No. 16 seed Bison pack their bags for Buffalo, New York, to face the towering challenge of the Midwest Region’s No. 1 seed, Michigan. Regardless of what happens next, this Howard team has already achieved basketball immortality. They played with discipline, heart, and an unshakable belief in themselves.
