Howard Beats NC Central 70-63 to Clinch NCAA Tournament Bid

Gillus, Okojie and Harris each score 14 points for Howard in MEAC title win

Mar. 14, 2026 at 8:54pm

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Top-seeded Howard University defeated No. 3 seed North Carolina Central 70-63 on Wednesday to win the MEAC tournament championship and clinch an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Tournament. Cam Gillus, Ose Okojie and Bryce Harris all scored 14 points for Howard, which opened the second half on a 15-1 run to take control of the game.

Why it matters

Howard's victory marks the Bison's second MEAC tournament title in the last three years, continuing the program's recent success and securing their spot in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. The win also denies North Carolina Central a chance to reach the Big Dance, ending their season.

The details

Howard led 26-23 at halftime before breaking the game open with a 15-1 run to start the second half, taking a 41-24 advantage. North Carolina Central spent the rest of the game trying to recover, getting as close as 6 points late, but Howard held on at the free-throw line. Howard made 27 of 35 free throws, while North Carolina Central committed 13 turnovers.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, March 13, 2026.
  • Howard has now won two of the last three MEAC Tournament titles.

The players

Cam Gillus

A player for Howard University who scored 14 points in the MEAC championship game.

Ose Okojie

A player for Howard University who scored 14 points in the MEAC championship game.

Bryce Harris

A player for Howard University who scored 14 points and had 10 rebounds in the MEAC championship game.

Cedric Taylor III

A player for Howard University who scored 13 points and had 12 rebounds in the MEAC championship game.

Dionte Johnson

A player for North Carolina Central who scored a team-high 14 points in the MEAC championship game.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

Howard's victory in the MEAC tournament championship game secures their spot in the upcoming NCAA Division I Tournament, continuing the program's recent success and denying North Carolina Central a chance to reach the Big Dance.