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Catonsville Today
By the People, for the People
Howard Bison and UMBC Retrievers Face Off in March Madness 2026 First Four
The winner will earn the No. 16 seed in the Midwest Region and face top-ranked Michigan.
Mar. 15, 2026 at 11:24pm
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The Howard Bison and UMBC Retrievers will meet in the 2026 March Madness First Four, with the winner advancing to face No. 1 seed Michigan in the first round. UMBC enters as a 1.5-point favorite, looking to recapture the magic of their historic 2018 upset as a No. 16 seed over a No. 1. Howard is making its third NCAA Tournament appearance in four seasons, led by an experienced roster that ended the regular season on an eight-game win streak.
Why it matters
This First Four matchup features two teams looking to make their mark in the NCAA Tournament. UMBC is aiming to return to the Big Dance for the first time since their landmark 2018 victory, while Howard seeks to build on its recent tournament appearances and pull off an upset against a top seed.
The details
The Retrievers are 1.5-point favorites, while the Bison are +100 on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The total is set at 142.5 points. UMBC finished the regular season on a 12-game win streak, with just two losses coming in conference play. Howard ended the year on an eight-game run, scoring at least 78 points in seven of those victories.
- The Howard vs. UMBC First Four game will take place on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
- The winner will face No. 1 seed Michigan in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The players
DJ Armstrong
A guard for the UMBC Retrievers who helped lead the team to its historic 2018 upset as a No. 16 seed.
Howard Bison
A regular participant in the NCAA Tournament, having reached the Big Dance three times in the last four seasons.
What’s next
The winner of the Howard vs. UMBC First Four game will face No. 1 seed Michigan in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The takeaway
This First Four matchup represents an opportunity for both teams to make their mark in the NCAA Tournament. UMBC is looking to recapture the magic of its historic 2018 upset, while Howard aims to build on its recent tournament appearances and potentially pull off another surprise against a top seed.
