Howard University’s men and women’s basketball teams stepped onto the NCAA Tournament stage this month with momentum, confidence and history within reach, as both programs looked to build on conference championship seasons.
While both teams saw their postseason runs end in the opening rounds, their performances told a larger story about the trajectory of Howard basketball. From a historic first tournament win on the men’s side to continued dominance and historic seeding in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) for the women, the Bison showed signs of a program steadily closing the gap between participation and contention on the national stage.
That growth was most evident in the men’s tournament run, where Howard not only made history by winning their first NCAA Tournament game but proved it could compete with one of the nation’s top teams.
The Bison defeated University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Retrievers men’s basketball 86–83 in the First Four, the play-in round that determines the final spots in the NCAA Tournament field, extending a late-season surge that included a MEAC title and a nine-game winning streak.
That momentum carried into a first-round matchup against the No. 1 seed The University of Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball, where Howard proved it could compete early.
The Bison trailed just 50–46 at halftime, fueled by efficient shooting from beyond the arc, connecting on 10-of-16 from three-point range, along with balanced scoring. However, Michigan’s size and depth took control in the second half, as the Wolverines pulled away for a 101–80 victory.
“You play the game to win. We’re just as talented as they are,” Bryce Harris, a marketing major and graduate guard for the men’s basketball team said according to the Associated Press.. “We have talent, too. I feel like we showed that in the first half for sure.”
Howard’s starting unit, anchored by Harris alongside junior guards Cam Gillus and Cedric Taylor III, provided consistent offensive production. However, the deciding factor proved to be depth, as Michigan’s edge off the bench and dominance in the paint gradually wore down the Bison over the course of the game.
Head Coach Kenneth Blakeney grew emotional following the game as he reflected on the careers of Harris and senior guard Ose Okojie.
“I can’t express how grateful I am for these guys. They’ve been unbelievable people, people that I would do anything for,” Blakeney said. “I’m so proud of these guys, and I love them so much.”
Despite the loss, the season marked a major step forward. Howard finished as the MEAC regular season and tournament champions and reached the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four years, signaling sustained success under Blakeney.
The Howard Bison women’s basketball followed a similar path, combining conference dominance with a return to March Madness. The team was seeded at No. 14, the highest in program history.
Howard entered the tournament with a 26–8 record and both MEAC regular season and tournament titles, extending its run as one of the conference’s top programs.
“We are trying to do the things that every school is trying to do, to get to the tournament, to win championships,” Ty Grace,women’s head coach said in a post-game interview, emphasizing the program’s push to continue elevating its national presence.
Matched up against No. 3 seed The Ohio State University Buckeyes women’s basketball, the Bison showed early competitiveness before the game shifted in the second quarter.
After a back-and-forth opening period, Ohio State used defensive pressure and a decisive scoring run to take control, outscoring Howard 23–4 in the second quarter and building a 24-point halftime lead.
“We’ve seen a press before, but I think we lost our composure,” Grace said according to The Washington Post, noting the team struggled to handle Ohio State’s defensive intensity without breaking its rhythm.
Howard was unable to recover from the second-quarter surge, as turnovers and disrupted offensive flow limited its ability to cut into the deficit.
While both teams exited the NCAA Tournament early, the broader takeaway is clear: Howard basketball continues to grow.
The men’s program reached a historic milestone with its first tournament win, while the women’s team reinforced its position as a dominant force in the MEAC with another championship season.
Together, the performances reflect a program that is no longer just reaching March Madness, but is consistently showing it can compete, even if only in stretches, against some of the nation’s top teams.
Copy edited by Daryl R. Thomas Jr.