WASHINGTON (Interstat) — In a commanding Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference performance, the Howard Bison used a dominant first-half surge and an efficient offensive display to defeat the Norfolk State Spartans 88-60 in men’s college basketball on Saturday afternoon at Burr Gymnasium.

A crowd of 1,848 watched the Bison (13-9, 4-3 MEAC) separate early, building a 42-28 halftime lead and never allowing the Spartans (10-14, 3-4) to mount a serious challenge in the second half. The victory moved Howard above .500 in conference play and avenged a narrow loss to Morgan State earlier in the week.

The most critical phase of the game unfolded in the opening minutes of the second half. Leading by 14, Howard extinguished any lingering hope of a Norfolk State rally with a decisive 17-6 run over the first six minutes after intermission. The burst, fueled by Cedric Taylor and Bryce Harris, ballooned the Bison lead to 59-34 and effectively put the game out of reach. Norfolk State could not cut the deficit below 20 points for the remainder of the contest.

Howard’s offensive execution was the story, as they shot 54% from the field and a blistering 86.2% from the free-throw line. They scored 88 points on just 70 possessions, an elite offensive rating of 126.1. In contrast, Norfolk State managed only 60 points on 71 possessions, shooting 34.5% overall.

Taylor, a 6-foot-7 forward from Atlanta, led all scorers with 27 points and added nine rebounds. Harris matched his backcourt partner with 27 points of his own, along with eight rebounds. The duo combined to make 16 of their 20 free-throw attempts and were central to Howard’s 36-26 advantage in points in the paint.

Cam Gillus orchestrated the offense with five assists, while Danas Kazakevicius contributed six points and three rebounds off the bench.

For Norfolk State, Jordan Leaks of Hampton, Virginia, led the way with 13 points. Anthony McComb added 11 points and Elijah Jamison finished with nine points and five rebounds. The Spartans struggled with consistency, committing 13 turnovers and being out-rebounded 35-28.

Howard, which entered the game as a 6.5-point favorite, covered the spread with ease. The total score of 148 points went under the pregame over/under line of 144.5.

The Bison’s win provides momentum as they prepare to host South Carolina State next Saturday. Norfolk State looks to regroup and will face North Carolina Central at home on Feb. 7. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in the regular-season finale at Norfolk State on March 5.