Howard University men's basketball earns first NCAA tournament bid in decades
Howard University men's basketball earns first NCAA tournament bid in decades
The Howard University men's basketball team are going to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in over three decades, after a dramatic win in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament Championship game on Saturday. FOX 5's David Kaplan talks with a former Howard basketball player who was on the last tournament team, about what this year's achievement means.
NORFOLK, Va. - Get your dancing shoes ready! The Howard University men's basketball team are going to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in over three decades!
The Bison beat Norfolk State University 65-64 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament Championship game in Norfolk, Virginia on Saturday afternoon.
The game was a thrilling back and forth match up that came down to the last seconds. Neither team led by more than six points during the game which featured 15 lead changes and 11 ties.
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA - MARCH 11: The Howard Bison pose after defeating the Norfolk State Spartans to win the 2023 MEAC Men's Basketball Tournament Championship at Norfolk Scope Arena on March 11, 2023 in Norfolk, Virginia. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty
The Bison were down 4 points with a minute left, but they continued to fight hitting a three pointer that brought them within one point.
They then forced a turnover, hit two free throws to take the lead, and sealed the win with a defensive stop in the final seconds.
The win gives Howard its first NCAA men's basketball tournament birth since 1992, which was also the last time before this season that the Bison won the MEAC Tournament and regular season title.
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FOX 5 spoke with Art Crowder, who was a freshman on that 1992 team, about what this season's achievement means.
"It was great. I mean, to see this happen, I was waiting for so long," Crowder said beaming with pride. "31 years is a long time, and I just thought it would happen more. So I was really happy about them winning. I’m really proud of the team and the players. It’s just, wow! It’s so exciting that they finally did this."
Howard University men's basketball team learns NCAA Tournament seeding
On Sunday, the Howard University men’s basketball team learned their seeding for the NCAA Tournament, after punching their tickets to the big dance on Saturday. FOX 5’s Nana-Sentuo Bonsu was with the team as they learned who they will be playing next, and has reaction from the team’s captain Jelani Williams.
He added that he hopes the team's appearance in the NCAA tournament can elevate the university and its basketball program.
On Sunday, the Bison learned that they will be the 16 seed in the West Region.
They will head to Des Moines, Iowa on Thursday to take on the West Region's number one seed the Kansas Jayhawks.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.