As a Morehouse alumnus and Historically Black College and University (HBCU) advocate, remembering the legacy of Dr. King is a priority for many schools. While his influence is honored nationwide in various ways, Howard University and Morehouse College commemorate Dr. King through competition on the court.
Howard University and Morehouse College men’s basketball teams battled in the fourth annual MLK Day Classic on Jan. 19. Morehouse, a Division II program, did not back down to Howard after winning the matchup last year. Though playing relentlessly throughout the game, Morehouse could not come back, and Howard came out with a 78–69 victory.
Junior forward Cedric Taylor III was the leading scorer for Morehouse during the 2024-2025 season, averaging 15.6 ppg, earning him a spot on the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) First Team All-Conference team. Now playing for Howard, he detailed his emotions about playing his former teammates, five of whom he shared the court with.
“I’m playing my old team, but I can’t think about it like that,” said Taylor, a business finance major. “At the end of the day, it’s still a game, and it’s about us. We have to play our type of basketball, and if we do that and embody our culture, we’ll come out with a win.”
The game remained tight from start to finish, but the Bison rarely trailed. Taylor scored the opening basket within seconds of the tip.
Later in the first half, junior point guard Cam Gillus delivered an alley-oop to sophomore forward Travelle Bryson, highlighting a first half full of excitement and anticipation for the Bison.
Morehouse senior guard JerMontae Hill did not make it easy for Howard as he scored nine points in the first half, going a perfect 4/4 from the field.
Going into the second half, the Bison had a three-point lead with a score of 37–34. They shot 46.7 percent from the field, with senior guard Ose Okojie holding double figures with 13 points.
Morehouse caught its last lead of the game around the 12-minute mark of the second half, but it was quickly erased with a go-ahead putback from junior guard Alex Cotton.
The Tigers continued to apply pressure late in the second half, with Hill scoring 11 points during this stretch.
Howard’s size and dominance in the paint proved to be too much to overcome, even considering Morehouse shot more efficiently from beyond the arc, connecting on 37.5 percent of its three-point attempts compared to Howard’s 21.7 percent.
The Bison played a dominant game down low, grabbing 17 offensive rebounds and tallying 46 paint points.
In the end, the Tigers were forced to rely on fouls to try to win the game. The Bison delivered on the free throw attempts, going 5 for 6 in the final minute and a half of the game, cruising to the victory and ending Morehouse’s six-game winning streak.
Okojie was the Bison’s leading scorer with a career-high 21 points, shooting nearly 70 percent from the field. His dunk during the final seconds of the game was the dagger that officially put the game away.
Okojie knew that this game was going to be a battle, regardless of the difference in division. He said that for Howard, opponents will always play harder.
“We don’t really look at records, non-conference or anything like that,” said Okojie, a sport management major. “We know we’re Howard, so we’re gonna get everyone’s best shot, period.”
Taylor was also a key contributor to the game, sparking the crowd to life with numerous plays. He achieved a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Not only did he contribute tremendously to the box score, but he also said that motivating his teammates and giving them insight into Morehouse’s system was a key to the Bison’s success.
“Me knowing a lot of the other guys’ play styles on my former team is big,” Taylor said. “I just had to keep reiterating how they play to my teammates, and that helped with the game plan.”
Associate head coach Nate James emphasized the importance of the game beyond the court. He acknowledged that Morehouse would take immense pride in the matchup, given its status as Dr. King’s alma mater.
“You have two universities that show up and take pride in what they do and what they represent, especially on this day,” James said.
Ahead of conference play, the fourth annual MLK Day Classic honored Dr. King’s legacy while also bringing energy back into the Bison’s season after winter break.
Copy edited by Daryl R. Thomas Jr.
