Midwest Region top seed Michigan had other ideas.
After a closely played first half, the Wolverines outscored the MEAC champion Bison 51-34 in the second half to take a 101-80 victory in the NCAA tournament’s first round in Buffalo, New York.
Howard trailed 50-39 late in the first half when Cam Gillus converted a four-point play and after an empty Michigan possession, Bryce Harris drained a three-pointer at the buzzer to pull the Bison (24-11) within 50-46.
Harris, the MEAC player of the year playing in his final game for Howard, shared team scoring honors with Gillus with 21 points.
Michigan’s size was too much to overcome as 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara scored 19 points and 6-foot-9 forward Morez Johnson Jr. collected a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds.
The Wolverines took a lead as large as 31 points (98-67) in the second half, but Howard continued to push before Blakeney gave his starters a curtain call, earning a standing ovation from the Howard faithful in attendance.
Morehouse transfer Cedric Taylor III added 19 points as Kenny Blakeney used a six-man rotation throughout the night, rolling with the players who tied the school record for wins in a season with the 1986-87 Bison.
