Howard’s inside duo took over early and never let up. Bryce Harris (23 points) and Cedric Taylor III (24 points) combined for 47 points as the Bison rolled to an 85–57 wire‑to‑wire victory over South Carolina State at Burr Gymnasium. Howard extended its winning streak to three games and avenged a narrow January loss, while the Bulldogs saw their three‑game run end.
How the game unfolded
Howard jumped on South Carolina State from the opening whistle, converting early free throws and finishing strong in the paint to build a quick lead. The Bison controlled tempo with physical interior play and crisp ball movement, forcing turnovers and converting them into points. By the under‑8 media timeout in the first half Howard led 23–12, and the margin grew as Harris and Taylor dominated the post.
South Carolina State showed brief resistance late in the first half, Noah Treadwell hit a three and Derwin Hodge dunked to cut the gap, but Howard still led 36–24 at halftime. The second half belonged to the Bison. Howard’s ball movement and perimeter shooting stretched the lead to as many as 27 points, and the Bulldogs never recovered.
Why Howard won
Interior dominance: Howard outmuscled SC State inside, finishing with a 40–30 rebounding advantage and a 14–8 edge in paint points in the first half that set the tone.
Ball movement: The Bison recorded 22 assists to SC State’s 8, turning team passing into high‑percentage looks.
Efficiency: Howard shot 51 percent from the floor compared with 32 percent for the Bulldogs, a gap that translated directly into the final margin.
Stat leaders
TeamTop ScorerOther Leaders
Howard
Cedric Taylor III 24 pts
Bryce Harris 23 pts;
Team 40 reb; 22 ast
SC State
Noah Treadwell 13 pts
Jayden Johnson 11 pts
Team 30 reb; 8 ast
Key box‑score notes
Cedric Taylor III: 24 points, physical presence in the paint, efficient finishing.
Bryce Harris: 23 points, consistent post scoring and interior defense.
Noah Treadwell: Team‑high 13 points for SC State.
Team performance: Howard forced turnovers and converted them into points while protecting the ball and sharing it effectively.
Takeaways
Howard’s frontcourt carried the day. When Taylor and Harris impose themselves, Howard controls pace and possession.
Turnovers and assists told the story. The Bison’s 22 assists reflect unselfish play; SC State’s limited ball movement hindered their comeback chances.
Depth and defense matter in conference play. Howard’s rebounding and defensive discipline give them momentum heading into a tough stretch of the schedule.
What’s next
Howard stays home to host Yale on Monday evening.
South Carolina State returns home to face Morgan State on Saturday, Feb. 14.
Follow Brandon Walker on all platforms: @bwalkerdadon