HBCU ORIGINAL
Howard Makes History with First NCAA Tournament Win, Edges UMBC 86–83
DAYTON, Ohio — Howard University made program history Tuesday night, capturing its first-ever NCAA Tournament victory with a thrilling 86–83 win over University of Maryland, Baltimore County in the First Four.
Bryce Harris delivered a standout performance with 19 points and 14 rebounds, sealing the win with a clutch turnaround jumper with just 13 seconds remaining. His late-game heroics helped the Bison hold off a determined comeback by UMBC.
Ose Okojie led Howard with a career-high 23 points, powering the Bison (24–10) to a long-awaited breakthrough after entering March Madness winless in four previous appearances.
“We’ve accomplished a lot, but getting that first NCAA Tournament win means everything,” said head coach Kenneth Blakeney.
UMBC (24–9) made things interesting down the stretch. A three-pointer from DJ Armstrong Jr. cut the deficit to two with under a minute left. After Harris extended the lead, Jah’Likah King answered with a layup to keep it a one-possession game. But Howard held firm—Isaiah Brown split a pair of free throws, and Armstrong’s last-second three-point attempt missed, securing the historic win.
The Bison controlled much of the game, leading for nearly the entire contest and building a 13-point advantage in the first half. Okojie set the tone early with 16 first-half points, helping Howard take a 49–41 lead into halftime.
UMBC, known for its historic upset over Virginia in the 2018 NCAA Tournament, was looking to recreate March magic but fell just short despite strong performances from King (19 points), Armstrong (17), and Caden Diggs (15).
Cedric Taylor III added 16 points for Howard, excelling at the free-throw line before fouling out late in the game.
The Bison now advance as a No. 16 seed in the Midwest Region and will face powerhouse University of Michigan in the next round in Buffalo, New York.
With history already made, Howard now turns its attention to its next challenge on college basketball’s biggest stage.
The SWAC delivered one of the biggest championship storylines of the season as Jackson State and Florida A&M claimed the 2026 outdoor track & field titles.
Jackson State shocked the conference by capturing the men’s championship, powered by explosive sprint performances and clutch relay execution. The Tigers built momentum throughout the meet and held off late pushes to secure a historic breakthrough title.
On the women’s side, Florida A&M continued its championship tradition, controlling the meet with consistent scoring across sprints, hurdles, and field events. The Rattlers’ depth once again proved decisive as they stayed ahead of a competitive field to claim another SWAC crown.
Two different stories — one breakthrough, one dynasty — defined the SWAC season.
The SIAC championships belonged to Morehouse and Tuskegee as both programs delivered complete team performances to claim the 2026 outdoor track & field titles.
On the men’s side, Morehouse controlled the meet from start to finish, scoring consistently across sprints, distance, and field events to build separation early. The Maroon Tigers maintained their advantage through the final events, sealing another conference championship built on depth and execution.
On the women’s side, Tuskegee continued its dominance with a back-to-back SIAC championship performance. The Golden Tigers delivered strong scoring across sprints, relays, and field events, holding off the field once again to repeat as conference champions.
Together, Morehouse and Tuskegee set the standard in SIAC track & field heading into postseason competition.
The HBCUAC championship meet marked a new era as Voorhees and Dillard claimed the 2026 outdoor track & field titles in defining early conference performances.
Voorhees secured the men’s championship through consistent scoring across sprints, middle distance, and field events, proving to be the most complete team in a tightly contested meet.
Dillard followed on the women’s side with a strong all-around effort, highlighted by relay execution and key individual performances that helped them control the championship race from start to finish.
The HBCUAC now begins its competitive identity with two early benchmark programs setting the standard.
HBCU ORIGINAL
OVC Outdoor Track & Field — Eastern Illinois & Southeast Missouri Take Control, Tennessee State Battles in the Mix
The Ohio Valley Conference delivered a high-level championship meet in Little Rock as Eastern Illinois and Southeast Missouri claimed the 2026 outdoor track & field titles, while Tennessee State fought to stay inside the top tier.
Eastern Illinois captured the men’s championship with a powerful overall team performance, using depth across sprints, distance, and field events to hold off a competitive field. Southeast Missouri stayed right behind the pace, finishing runner-up behind a balanced scoring attack that kept pressure on throughout the meet.
On the women’s side, Southeast Missouri dominated the field to secure the OVC crown, led by consistent scoring across multiple event groups and a strong closing push in the final sessions. Eastern Illinois again finished near the top, locking in runner-up status and showing its program-wide strength on both sides of competition.
Tennessee State was the key HBCU presence in the conference, finishing in the middle of the standings on both the men’s and women’s side. The Tigers showed flashes in sprints, hurdles, and relays, but lacked the depth needed to break into the championship tier against the OVC’s top programs.
The meet reinforced Southeast Missouri’s growing conference dominance while Eastern Illinois remains a consistent championship contender on both sides.
The MEAC once again ran through two familiar powers as Norfolk State and Howard claimed the 2026 outdoor track & field championships in dominant fashion.
On the men’s side, Norfolk State continued its conference dynasty, securing its fifth straight MEAC outdoor title. The Spartans delivered across sprints, hurdles, and relays, using depth and execution in the final events to separate from the field and close out another championship run.
On the women’s side, Howard extended its own reign of dominance, stacking points across distance races, field events, and relays to secure another MEAC crown. The Bison’s balance and consistency across all disciplines once again proved too much for the rest of the conference.
MEAC dominance remains firmly in the hands of Norfolk State and Howard heading into postseason competition.
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