Courtesy of Howard University Athletic Media Relations


Box Score


WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In a battle of the top two teams in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), a Thursday night contest that could preview the 2022 MEAC Basketball Tournament, the Howard University Bison topped the Norfolk State University Spartans 71-64 in Burr Gymnasium.

Howard won its second consecutive conference contest to improve to 12-8 and 6-2 MEAC. Norfolk State falls to 10-8 and 6-1 MEAC, and the Spartans hold a half-game lead at the top of the standings.

Howard's Kaniyah Harris broke a 61-61 tie, knocking down a long ball to take a 64-61 lead with 2:24 left in the fourth quarter to spark a 10-6 run to defeat the Spartans. The Bison connected on 6-of-7 free throws to seal the game.

The Bison opened the game on a 13-6 run with 3:05 left on the first quarter. The Spartans answered backed with a 7-4 run to close the quarter down 17-13.

Howard slowly built a 23-13 lead with 6:25 left in the second quarter. Howard traded baskets with Norfolk State over the next three minutes to keep a 29-19 lead when the Spartans closed the half on a 10-2 run to cut the lead to 32-29.

The Spartans tied the game at 34, with 8:38 left in the third quarter. Howard's Krislyn Marsh broke the tie with a nifty layup to spark a 7-0 run to take a 44-38 lead. Norfolk State countered with a 7-0 run to tie the game at 44, with 2:12 left in the third quarter. The Spartans then closed the third quarter on a 6-1 run to take a 50-45 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Spartans slowly built a 59-53 lead with 5:19 left in the contest when Brooklynn Fort-Davis knocked in a mid-range jumper in the paint to spark  an 8-0 run to grab the lead, 61-59. After a Spartan jumper, the Bison closed the contest on a 10-6 run to defeat Norfolk State.

Hutton paced the Bison offense, recording a season-high 19 points. Destiny Howell (18) and Kaniyah Harris (11) joined Hutton in double figures, and Fort-Davis chipped in nine points off the bench.

Hutton also recorded a game-high nine rebounds.

The Bison outscored the Spartans 19-7 in second-chance points, including 10 in the fourth quarter. Howard bench outscored Norfolk State 12-2 in the fourth quarter.

Howard holds a 34-19 record over Norfolk State. In addition, head coach Ty Grace is four games from reaching the 100 win game mark as a Bison.