The Howard Bison (#2) beat the North Carolina Central Eagles (#3) 69-56 with a great day from the line shooting 26-37 (70%).

“We talked about being downhill that you know.” Head Coach Ty Grace said. “We had put them in foul trouble and they didn’t guard very well on the bounce and Iyanna Warren is just the one of the best at it so that’s what we told her to do and Kiaya Creek was knocking down shots that’s hard to guard you got somebody getting downhill and somebody hitting from outside, it’s tough but I’m just trying to teach them to play like I played, and I’m very random and I’m very tough and you know, I’m passionate and so to see them play like that, it just made me really proud.”

The Bison and the Eagles were well-balanced through the first 4 minutes, putting the score at 9-8 for the first media timeout. The Bison come out of the timeout with a 6-0 run putting them in the lead ending the first 21-15.

In the second quarter was a back-and-forth game with 9 fouls. The quarter ended with the Bison and the Eagles both shooting 30% from the field.

“We don’t worry about percentages, we got to shoot a shot.” Coach Grace said. “I told them their next shot is their best shot, so they missed a shot so what we missed a ton of layups 11 layups, but I thought the second half they fought they scored they finished, they went to the foul line and shot good from the line. So I’m not looking at the percentage I’m looking at the next shot and when it goes in, I’m happy.”

The 3rd Quarter started very slow for both teams. The Bison were able to draw 9 fouls to help them put up 16 points in the quarter, and the Eagles with only 11.

Iyanna Warren rebounded the ball well in the second half notching 6 in the half, and 12 in the game. She was able to score well off of turnovers, pushing them into the fourth Quarter.

The Bison maintain the lead through the 4th quarter by sharing the ball and getting to the free-throw line. Marissa Steel had a nice up-and-under layup after a nice pass from Nile Miller.

The Howard Bison (#2) will play the Norfolk State Spartans (#1) in the 2024 MEAC championship game tomorrow at 4 pm on ESPN+.