Both teams in Saturday afternoon’s Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men’s basketball championship game wore each other down until there was just about nothing left for either side to give.
For defending champion Howard University, Bryce Harris and Jordan Hairston had just enough in the tank down the stretch to lift the Bison past No. 6 seed Delaware State 70-67, repeating as conference champions and earning the program’s second straight NCAA tournament appearance.
Howard (18-16) jumped out to an early 19-9 lead and were ahead 31-21 late in the first half, but Delaware State got timely baskets from sophomore Jevin Muniz (game-high 24 points) and senior Martaz Robinson (18 points) to pull within six points (40-34) at intermission.
Muniz went on a personal nine-point run to pull Delaware State ahead 55-49 with 9 minutes to go in regulation, but Harris and Hairston took over down the stretch. Four straight drives to the basket by Harris (16 points) put Howard ahead 64-60, and four free throws by Hairston (team-high 18 points) helped keep the Bison in front.
LAST TEAM STANDING!!!
2023 MEAC CHAMPIONS!!!!
INVEST IN #THEDREAMFACTORY https://t.co/nQrWBftwZj pic.twitter.com/FSsFAQYqQW
— Howard Men’s Basketball (@HUMensBB) March 16, 2024
Delaware State trailed 70-66 when Deywilk Tavarez was fouled attempting a three-pointer with 2.2 seconds left. Tavarez made the first free throw but missed the second, then the third on purpose, but it didn’t hit the rim, and Howard ran out the clock.
This is the Bison’s second MEAC title under head coach Kenny Blakeney after a 30-year drought before the 2023 season when Howard upset Norfolk State 65-64 in the championship game. The 4th-seeded Bison repeated the upset of NSU 80-74 in the semifinals, then held off a valiant effort from No. 6 Delaware State, making their first conference title game appearance since 2015.
The Hornets were 2-25 in head coach Stan Waterman’s first season (2021-22), but got to the championship game thanks to identical 71-58 upset wins over No. 3 South Carolina State and No. 2 North Carolina Central.
Howard now turns their attention to Selection Sunday, where they’ll find out who their NCAA tournament opponent will be.
