The third month has arrived, and with it comes one of college basketball’s most beloved traditions: March Madness.
As teams from across the country compete for eternal basketball glory, this year, the spotlight is shining brightly on the Bison of Howard University.
For the first time in school history, both Howard’s men’s and women’s basketball programs celebrate championship seasons and prepare to represent the university on the national stage in the same year.
“It’s amazing,” said Ty Grace, head coach of the Lady Bison. “It’s a historic time at the university and to be able to have both teams be champions, I mean you couldn’t ask for a better story.”
From cutting down nets in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) tournament to stepping onto the national stage, the Bison are carrying the conference and university pride into March Madness.
“Very few teams in the country have done what we’ve done,” said Howard University’s Athletic Director Kery Davis. “So tonight we celebrate, we prepare to get on the road and then we’ll do what we have to do. Let’s be greedy, let’s win when we get to the tournament, let’s get some [wins] behind us so they’ll respect us all around the country.”
Howard Men’s Basketball Team Wins MEAC Championship; Bison Face a Familiar Start to March Madness Run
The Howard Bison men’s basketball team capped off a dominant season by capturing the 2026 MEAC Championship, defeating the North Carolina Central University Eagles 70-63 at Norfolk Scope Arena on Saturday.
The victory marked Howard’s third MEAC championship win in the last four years and the sixth conference tournament title in program history.
With the victory, the Bison secured the MEAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Tournament, returning to college basketball’s biggest stage for the fifth time in program history.
“It’s such a testament to them [the players] and it’s such a big thing for their student experience,” said Howard men’s basketball head coach Kenneth Blakeney. “I want these young men to have Howard in their DNA and in their fibers because I know our alums do and our community does as well. For our young men to go to three NCAA tournaments in four years is incredible.”
Howard enters the tournament with a 23-10 record and an eight-game winning streak, and led by MEAC Player of the Year Bryce Harris, whose leadership and scoring have powered the team throughout the season. In addition, Defensive Player and Newcomer of the Year Cedric Taylor III is a key anchor on the pressuring end.
Guiding the Bison Dream Factory program is Blakeney, now in his seventh season with Howard.
“[Coach Blakeney] brings toughness, he brings the passion to the game that is infectious, and contagious for the rest of the players,” said Harris, a graduate student guard. “I feel like once we just kind of carry that on and we can put that into basketball, that’s when we start to have success.”
Howard began their tournament run Tuesday in Dayton, Ohio, in the First Four, sharing a No. 16 seed with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Retrievers of the America East Conference.
In the thrilling play-in game, the Bison defeated the Retrievers 86-83. The Bison were in control for most of the game, but had to withstand a furious UMBC rally that ended in a three-point game. UMBC graduate student guard DJ Armstrong Jr. had a chance to force overtime, but his buzzer-beating three-pointer fell short.
This marks Howard’s first-ever NCAA tournament victory, which was led by senior guard Ose Okojie, who recorded 23 points (9-of-15 FG and 3-of-3 3FG). In men’s NCAA Tournament history, only two No. 16 seed teams have ever upset a No. 1 seed: UMBC’s historic win over Virginia in 2018, and Fairleigh Dickinson’s shocking win against Purdue in 2023. Howard looks to become the third when they take on Michigan on Thursday, March 19 at 7:10 p.m. at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. The game will be televised on CBS.
Howard Women’s Basketball Captures MEAC Tournament, Lady Bison Set to Face a New Opponent in First Round
The Howard Lady Bison defeated the Norfolk State Spartans 53-46, securing the 2025 MEAC Women’s Basketball Championship, marking the program’s record 12th conference title and its first since 2022.
The championship run earned the Lady Bison a No. 14 seed in the NCAA Division I Tournament, the highest seed in program history.
“I’m speechless,” said Ty Grace, Howard women’s basketball head coach. “I’m very excited and happy for this program and the university. This is just an amazing day. I was not expecting that [the No. 14 seed] but I’m glad. We earned it, we worked for it, the committee saw that, and I’m just proud. I’m happy to be coaching this program.”
Howard enters the tournament making its seventh NCAA appearance, led by MEAC Player of the Year Zennia Thomas, a senior forward from Cleveland whose presence has been pivotal all season. She is joined by standout freshman Ariella Henigan, the MEAC Rookie of the Year from Chicago.
Players lauded Grace, the MEAC Coach of the Year who is now in her 11th season leading the Lady Bison.
“She’s an amazing coach,” said senior forward Nile Miller. “I’ve been here for four years and I haven’t left yet for a reason and she’s just an amazing leader. Just guiding us to the championship and being able to play for her, and now playing against Ohio State is an amazing feeling.”
Howard will open the tournament play against the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday, March 21 in Columbus, Ohio. Tip-off is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on ESPN2. The matchup will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
“I mean we’re going to do what we’ve been doing,” said Grace. “We’re going to believe in who we are. We’re going to stick to our plan and our strategy and we’re going to enjoy this experience.”