Howard's trip to McDougald-McLendon Arena was a successful one, as they handed North Carolina Central a 83-69 loss. The visiting Bison were led by a strong performance from Bryce Harris, who tallied 20 points and 13 rebounds to pace the team. Harris's double-double was a key factor in the outcome, as Howard's balanced attack proved too much for the Eagles to handle.
The game got off to a competitive start, with Howard taking a 35-32 lead into the halftime break. However, the Bison pulled away in the second half, outscoring North Carolina Central 48-37 to secure the 14-point victory. Tekao Carpenter did his best to keep the Eagles in the game, scoring 21 points to lead all North Carolina Central players. Gage Lattimore and Khouri Carvey also chipped in with 14 and 10 points, respectively, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Bison's high-powered offense.
Harris was joined by a pair of teammates in double figures, as Ose Okojie and Cedric Taylor III added 19 and 17 points, respectively. The trio's combined 56 points accounted for nearly 70% of Howard's total output, and their efforts helped the Bison control the tempo of the game. North Carolina Central, on the other hand, struggled to find a consistent rhythm on offense, and their defense was unable to slow down the Howard attack.
The loss drops North Carolina Central to 7-12 on the season, while Howard improves to 12-8. The outcome of this game will have implications for both teams' tournament resumes, particularly for Howard. As a Quadrant 4 win, it may not carry significant weight, but it does help to bolster the Bison's overall record and provides a boost to their confidence. For North Carolina Central, the defeat is a Quad 4 loss, which may hurt their chances of making a deep postseason run.
The win is a reflection of Howard's ability to perform on the road, and they want to build on this momentum as they continue through their schedule. With a strong performance from Harris and a balanced attack, the Bison was too much for North Carolina Central to handle. As the season wears on, Howard want to continue to rack up wins and improve their tournament chances. For now, this victory is a significant addition to their resume, and they will hope to use it as a springboard to further success.