WASHINGTON (Interstat) — In a commanding display of defensive pressure and offensive efficiency, the Howard Bison avenged an earlier conference loss by overwhelming the Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks 79-53 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Saturday afternoon at Burr Gymnasium.

A crowd of 1,257 watched the Bison improve to 16-10 overall and solidify their position in the MEAC standings, while the Hawks fell to 8-18. The victory came five weeks after Maryland-Eastern Shore secured a 69-57 win in Princess Anne, a result Howard was determined to reverse on its home floor.

The most important part of the game was Howard’s relentless defensive intensity from the opening tip, which created a decisive disparity in opportunities. The Bison forced 19 Hawks turnovers, converting them into 26 points, while committing only eight turnovers of their own. Howard’s 13 steals, led by a disruptive team effort, fueled a transition game that kept the Hawks perpetually on their heels and prevented any sustained offensive rhythm.

Howard set the tone early, opening a double-digit lead in the first half and never looking back. The Bison led 41-30 at halftime and maintained control throughout the second period, extending the advantage as the Hawks struggled to find consistent scoring options.

Cedric Taylor, a 6-foot-7 guard from Atlanta, led all scorers with 22 points, adding six assists and four rebounds in 33 minutes. Bryce Harris, designated as Howard’s top star, filled the stat sheet with 17 points, four rebounds, four assists and four blocks, showcasing his two-way impact. Travelle Bryson of Anderson, South Carolina, provided a significant spark off the bench with 16 points and seven rebounds.

The Bison’s offensive rating of 117.1 points per 100 possessions starkly contrasted with the Hawks’ rating of 78.8, highlighting the efficiency gap. Howard shot 45 percent from the field and made 18 of 22 free throws. While Maryland-Eastern Shore shot a respectable 42.9 percent, its 19 turnovers and only three assists crippled its ability to generate quality shots consistently.

Maryland-Eastern Shore was led by Trey Brown’s 14 points. The Hawks managed just three assists as a team, emblematic of their offensive struggles against Howard’s swarming defense.

The Bison also dominated the glass with 11 offensive rebounds leading to 11 second-chance points, and their 13 assists demonstrated a cohesive offensive approach. Key reserves like Cam Gillus contributed across the board with eight points, seven rebounds and two assists, while Ose Okojie of Brampton, Canada, dished out four assists.

For the Hawks, Michael Teal logged 34 minutes but was held to five points, though he contributed four assists. Christopher Flippin added nine points in 12 minutes.

The result aligned with pregame expectations, as Howard was installed as an 11.5-point favorite and entered with an 88.6 percent probability to win according to Interstat’s ELO system. The combined score of 132 points went under the betting total of 129.5.

Howard looks to carry this momentum into its next contest on the road at Delaware State on Monday. Maryland-Eastern Shore returns home to face Norfolk State, also on Monday, seeking to end a four-game skid.