Howard Writes History with First NCAA Tourney Win

Howard University made history on Tuesday night, securing their first-ever NCAA Tournament victory with an 86-83 win over UMBC in the First Four. The Bison, making their fifth appearance in the Big Dance, were led by a dominant double-double performance from junior Bryce Harris, who tallied 19 points and 14 rebounds, including the game-winning jumper with just 13 seconds remaining.

Sophomore guard Ose Okojie was also instrumental in the Bison's historic triumph, pouring in a career-high 23 points to pace the offense. The win marks the culmination of a remarkable season for Howard, which entered the tournament with a solid 24-10 record after winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship.

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For much of the game, it appeared the Retrievers of UMBC were poised to pull off another March Madness upset, much like their stunning 2018 victory over top-seeded Virginia. UMBC, the America East conference champion, rallied late and trimmed Howard's lead to just one possession in the final seconds, but ultimately fell short in their comeback bid.

The nail-biting finish capped off an eventful First Four slate, which also saw Texas hold off a furious rally from NC State to advance. Longhorns guard Marcus Carr hit a buzzer-beating jumper to secure the 81-80 victory for his team.

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With their historic win, the Howard Bison have punched their ticket to the first round of the NCAA Tournament, where they will face the daunting challenge of taking on one of the top overall seeds. But for now, the players and coaches are relishing in the program's greatest achievement, cementing their place in March Madness lore.