NORFOLK, Va. (Interstat) — The Howard Bison used a dominant first-half performance and a game-high 25 points from guard Cam Gillus to defeat the South Carolina State Bulldogs 78-61 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men’s basketball tournament quarterfinal on Friday night at the Constant Convocation Center.

The victory, Howard’s third over South Carolina State this season, propelled the Bison to a 22-10 overall record and into the tournament semifinals. The Bulldogs’ season concluded with a 10-22 mark.

The most critical phase of the game was its opening act, where Howard established a commanding lead from which South Carolina State could never recover. The Bison’s defensive pressure and efficient offense created a 14-point halftime cushion that defined the contest.

Howard seized control early, opening a 10-point lead at 19-9 midway through the first half. South Carolina State struggled to find any offensive rhythm against the Bison’s active defense, committing multiple shot-clock violations and turnovers. While the Bulldogs briefly cut the deficit to seven points following a three-pointer from Owen Bronston, Howard responded with a decisive 11-2 run to close the half.

The run was punctuated by Gillus, a junior from Falls Church, Virginia. He scored the final five points of the period, including a three-pointer with 34 seconds left and a driving layup just before the buzzer, sending the Bison into the locker room with a 38-24 advantage. Howard’s defense held South Carolina State to just 24 points on a disjointed 32 percent shooting in the half.

The second half saw South Carolina State attempt to mount a challenge. The Bulldogs opened with a 9-2 spurt, fueled by five quick points from Noah Treadwell, to trim Howard’s lead to 40-33 and force a Bison timeout. The momentum was short-lived.

Howard answered immediately out of the stoppage, with Cedric Taylor converting a layup off a feed from Gillus. The Bison then methodically rebuilt their lead, stretching it back to 16 points at 55-39 following a Travelle Bryson jumper with just over 11 minutes remaining. Every time the Bulldogs threatened to draw closer, Howard had a response, usually from Gillus or Taylor.

Gillus finished his night with 25 points in 37 minutes, consistently hitting crucial shots to stifle Bulldog rallies. Taylor, a forward from Atlanta, added 16 points, three assists and a block. Ose Okojie of Brampton, Canada, provided 11 points and was a disruptive force defensively.

For South Carolina State, Treadwell led the way with 13 points. Bronston added 11 points, and Jayden Johnson of Brooklyn, New York, contributed 11 points and four assists. The Bulldogs shot significantly better in the second half, scoring 37 points, but could never overcome their initial deficit.

Howard’s victory followed the pregame expectations, as they were installed as a 14.5-point favorite. The combined final score of 139 points fell under the over/under line of 145.5. The Bison will now await the winner of another MEAC quarterfinal as they continue their pursuit of an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

The game marked the end of a turnaround effort for South Carolina State, which had entered the MEAC tournament on a three-game winning streak after a difficult season. Howard, meanwhile, continued its strong campaign, having now won 10 of its last 11 games.