Howard University Makes History With First-Ever NCAA Tournament Win
Written by Site Hub on March 17, 2026
Source: BET News Published: March 17, 2026
Howard University’s men’s basketball team made program history on March 17, defeating UMBC 86–83 in the NCAA Tournament First Four at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio — the first NCAA Tournament win ever for the Bison. Senior guard Ose Okojie led all scorers with a career-high 23 points, while Bryce Harris recorded a double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds. Howard controlled the game from start to finish, building a lead as large as 14 points in the second half before holding off a late UMBC comeback attempt. The victory advances Howard to a first-round Midwest Regional matchup against No. 1 seed Michigan in Buffalo, New York. Head coach Kenneth Blakeney has now guided the Bison to three NCAA Tournament appearances. The win marks the seventh time a program from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference — which includes eight HBCUs — has won an NCAA Tournament game.
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