WASHINGTON, D.C.- Howard delivered one of its most complete two-way performances of the season, pairing balanced scoring with relentless defensive pressure to secure a crucial 79–53 victory over Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday evening at Burr Gymnasium. The win keeps the Bison firmly in the MEAC race as the regular season enters its final stretch.
High-Flying First Half Sets the Tone
Bryce Harris and Jaden Cooper traded early baskets before UMES (8–18, 4–5 MEAC) briefly seized momentum on a thunderous fast-break dunk by Chris Flippin that shook the rim and ignited the Hawks’ bench. Harris immediately answered with a dunk of his own, and Howard (16–10, 6–3 MEAC) regained control.
Travelle Bryson came off the bench firing, drilling a three-pointer to push the Bison ahead at the first media timeout. Both teams struggled with shot selection and turnovers in the early going, but Howard maintained a 12–10 edge as the pace settled.
The game shifted sharply when Harris buried a three to extend the lead to seven. Bryson followed with a smooth jumper, then detonated on an alley‑oop dunk that sent the Burr into a frenzy and swung momentum fully toward the Bison. UMES briefly stopped the bleeding with an Alex Cotton three, but Howard’s trips to the free‑throw line and late baskets from Bryson, Harris, and Cedric Taylor widened the gap.
Dorian Staples hit UMES’s first three of the half in the final seconds, scoring the last five points to trim the deficit.
Halftime: Howard 41, UMES 30
Howard dominated the glass 20–8 in the first half and shared the ball with precision, recording 12 assists to UMES’s four.
Bison Defense Breaks the Game Open
Harris opened the second half with another three-pointer, followed by a Taylor basket. Howard then unveiled a disruptive zone press that completely derailed UMES’s offensive rhythm. The Hawks struggled to advance the ball cleanly, committing turnovers that the Bison quickly converted into transition points.
Blocked shots, runouts, and crisp ball movement fueled a surge that ballooned the lead to 20 by the first media timeout. From there, Howard controlled the tempo and never allowed UMES to mount a serious push, avenging its 82–73 loss on Jan. 9.
Key Factors in the Win
Defensive Havoc: Howard forced 13 live-ball steals, turning them into 26 points.
Second-Chance Dominance: The Bison generated 14 second-chance points, compared to just four for UMES.
Rebounding Edge: Howard’s physicality on the boards set the tone from the opening tip.
Stat Leaders
Howard:
Cedric Taylor- 22 points
Bryce Harris- 17 points
Travelle Bryson- 16 points off the bench
UMES:
Trey Brown — 14 points (only Hawk in double figures)
What’s Next
Howard hits the road Monday to face Delaware State in another pivotal conference matchup. UMES returns home to host Norfolk State as both teams continue jockeying for MEAC tournament positioning.
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