Howard University men’s basketball fought until the final buzzer, but came up just short in a one-possession loss to the Morgan State University Bears last Saturday.
Both the Bison and Bears were looking to extend their winning streaks to four and three games, respectively. Morgan State, who won their last game by 75 points, accomplished that goal with the final score coming to 78–77.
This outcome mirrors these two teams’ previous matchup. Morgan State ended Howard’s season with another one-point victory in the 2025 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) tournament quarterfinals.
Junior guard Cedric Taylor III tied his career high with 29 points and six rebounds. Graduate student Bryce Harris achieved a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Junior guard Alex Cotton was the final Bison in double digits with 14 points on 2–6 shooting from behind the arc.
Early in the game, the teams traded, keeping the score close. Morgan State started off connecting on three of five in the first six and a half minutes. Harris contributed to 10 of the Bison’s first 14 points.
During a 5–0 run from Morgan State, Howard trailed for four minutes. Fighting back, a layup from Cotton ended the Bison’s scoring drought, and a free throw from Harris would steal the lead again with around 13 minutes left in the first half.
Morgan State, however, did not back down. The Bears shot 50% from three in the first half.
After an even start, a momentum-shifting dunk by Taylor around the 10-minute mark put Howard in front. The Bison maintained that lead for most of the game, only surrendering it in the final 30 seconds of the game.
During the first half, the Bison capitalized on offensive rebounds, grabbing 15 offensive boards and scoring 23 second-chance points compared to Morgan State’s 11 second-chance points. They also dominated the paint, scoring 14 more paint points in the period.
Heading into the locker room, Harris and Taylor were in double figures with 19 and 11, respectively. Morgan State senior guard Alfred Worrell Jr. also had 15 points at the half, with a score of 42–36, Howard leading.
At the start of the second half, Howard dominated the game. Playing strong team basketball on both ends, they shut down Morgan State’s first-half three-point momentum, limiting them to one successful three-point attempt in the period.
Howard’s late-game turnovers in the second half are what allowed the Bears to chip away at the growing lead that the Bison created. Though both teams ended with 17 turnovers, Morgan State capitalized more efficiently, scoring 20 points off turnovers, compared to Howard’s 12 points off turnovers.
The Bison held a 10-point lead with only six minutes left in the game, but Morgan State fought relentlessly to come back.
The Bears went on a 7-2 run late in the second half that brought them within reach. Morgan State guard Rob Lawson scored five of those points, including the game-tying basket, delivering tremendously for his team. Lawson ended the game with a team-high 24 points, shooting 50% from the field and 60% from three.
With the score tied at 74, Harris stepped to the line for two crucial free throws but made only one, missing the chance to extend the lead by two.
An offensive rebound by Morgan State guard David Bumpass turned into a second-chance layup, giving the Bears their first lead since the 10-minute mark in the first period. This was now a one-point game with 30 seconds left.
After a timeout from Howard, junior point guard Cam Gillus was fouled, and he made both free throws, which put the Bison back on top. The Bison ended shooting a season high 80% from the free throw line.
With less than 10 seconds left in the game, Howard committed a turnover, allowing the Bears to get a layup and the lead with only six seconds remaining.
In the closing moments, Gillus rose for a final shot at the buzzer, but it did not connect, sealing Morgan State’s comeback and leaving Howard just short, 78–77.
Though the team has faced tough losses this season, associate head coach Nate James remains optimistic, with high hopes and expectations for the season.
“I think with this team, the sky’s the limit,” James said. “You don’t want to peak too soon, but I think we are gelling and making those improvements.”
Taylor, who earned MEAC preseason honors, emphasized the value of staying united as a team regardless of the situation.
“One thing we talk about as a team is losing ourselves in a fight,” said Taylor, a business finance major. “If we [stay positive], we don’t have time to get in our heads, so that’s what we work on.”
Howard will continue conference play in another home game against 2025 MEAC Champions Norfolk State University on Jan. 31.
Copy edited by Daryl R. Thomas Jr.
