Blake Harper was not on the Howard University basketball team last season when the Bison held off Delaware State to win the MEAC championship.
Harper, a 6’8 freshman guard from Washington D.C., could play a huge part in Howard’s three-peat hopes as he scored a game-high 32 points to lift the Bison past the pesky Hornets 100-94 in a Saturday night game televised by ESPNU.
Harper couldn’t miss, making 10-12 field goals, connecting on 3 of 4 from behind the three-point line, and making all nine of his free-throw attempts.
Howard (6-9, 1-0 MEAC) made their first six three-pointers and raced out to a 49-34 late in the first half.
Delaware State (7-8, 0-1 MEAC) rallied behind the trio of Martaz Robinson, Robert Smith and Kaseem Watson (22 points).
Robinson scored a team-high 28 points, and Smith (27 points) made two free throws to tie the game at 78 midway through the second half. Howard took the lead back for good on a Cameron Shockley-Okeke three-pointer, and Delaware State was forced to play catch-up the rest of the way. Shockley-Okeke stepped in when Harper picked up his fourth foul and scored 24 points of his own.
The Hornets forced a turnover down 94-92 with 27 seconds left, but the Bison trapped Robinson, and Harper came up with the steal. Muneer Newton fouled Harper intentionally, and officials ruled it was a flagrant foul.
Harper’s two foul shots and four more by Jaren Johnson put the game away.
Both teams shot the ball well, but Howard was better. Howard went a perfect 25-for-25 from the free throw line and made 11-of-22 three-point attempts, compared to just six makes in 19 attempts for Delaware State.
Howard will next visit Maryland-Eastern Shore on Monday, while Delaware State will open the home portion against Norfolk State, another MEAC contender.
The DSU/Norfolk State game will be available on ESPN Plus.
