Howard Bison Defeat NC Central Eagles in MEAC Tournament Final

Howard's stifling defense leads them to a double-digit victory and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 3:05pm

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The #1 seed Howard Bison defeated the #3 seed NC Central Eagles 78-61 in the MEAC Tournament championship game. Howard's defense held NC Central to just 67.9 points per game, 40th-best in college basketball, as they forced turnovers and poor shots throughout the contest. Howard was led by the duo of Cedric Taylor III and Bryce Harris, who combined for 34.5 points, 13.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game this season.

Why it matters

This victory secures Howard a spot in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, marking a successful season for the Bison program. Meanwhile, NC Central's tournament run falls short despite a strong finish to the regular season, leaving them on the outside looking in for the Big Dance.

The details

Howard jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, using their stifling defense to limit NC Central's scoring opportunities. The Bison held the Eagles to just 30.4% shooting from three-point range, well below their season average. Howard's balanced scoring attack, led by Cedric Taylor III and Bryce Harris, proved too much for NC Central to overcome.

  • The MEAC Tournament championship game was played on Saturday, March 14, 2026.
  • Howard has now won 7 straight games heading into the NCAA Tournament.

The players

Cedric Taylor III

A star player for the Howard Bison, averaging 17.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game this season.

Bryce Harris

The other half of Howard's dynamic scoring duo, putting up 17.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per contest.

Gage Lattimore

The leading scorer for NC Central, averaging 16.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 38.9% from three-point range.

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What they’re saying

“Our defense has been the backbone of our success all season long. Holding teams under 70 points has been the key to our wins, and we knew we had to bring that intensity to the championship game.”

— Cedric Taylor III, Howard Bison Guard

“We fought hard, but Howard's defense was just too much for us to overcome. They made it extremely difficult for us to get good looks at the basket all game long.”

— Gage Lattimore, NC Central Eagles Guard

What’s next

Howard will now turn their attention to the upcoming NCAA Tournament, where they will look to make a deep run and potentially earn a spot in the Final Four.

The takeaway

Howard's stifling defense and balanced scoring attack proved to be the difference in the MEAC Tournament final, as they punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament with an impressive victory over NC Central. The Bison's ability to limit opponents' scoring opportunities has been the key to their success all season long.