![\"NCAA](\"https:\/\/images.deadspin.com\/tr:w-900\/28523066.jpg\")
Mar 17, 2026; Dayton, OH, USA; Howard Bison guard Cam Gillus (2) dribbles defended by UMBC Retrievers guard Jah’likai King (4) in the second half during a first four game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at University of Dayton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\nDAYTON, Ohio — Ose Okojie scored 16 of his team-leading 21 points in the first half and Bryce Harris added 19 points and 14 rebounds as Howard held off a furious rally by UMBC 86-83 on Tuesday in an NCAA Tournament First Four contest in Dayton, Ohio.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n As the shot clock was expiring, Harris hit a clutch turnaround jumper with 12.7 seconds left to give Howard (24-10) a four-point lead. The Bison held on to advance as the No. 16 seed and oppose No. 1 seed Michigan in a Midwest Region first-round game Thursday in Buffalo.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The Bison, who qualified for the 68-team field by capturing the MEAC tournament title, extended their season-best win streak to nine games.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Jah’Likai King had 19 and DJ Armstrong Jr. added 17 for the Retrievers (24-9), who had their program-record 12-game win streak snapped. The Retrievers, tournament champions of America East, were making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since their historic 2018 upset of No. 1 seed Virginia.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n <\/p>\n Caden Diggs added 15 points and eight rebounds off the bench for UMBC. Armstrong’s 30-foot 3-point attempt was off the mark to the right as time expired.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Howard led by double figures for most of the second half, but Diggs converted two free throws with 53.8 seconds left to draw UMBC within 83-78. After the Bison’s Cam Gillus came up short on the front end of a 1-and-1 with 52.9 seconds left, Armstrong drained a long 3-pointer with 43.4 seconds left to cap a 9-0 run, and UMBC was within 83-81.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n After UMBC opened with the game’s first four points, Howard scored the next nine points to take an early lead. The Bison used an 8-0 surge to take a 19-11 advantage on a layup by Okojie.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Trailing 21-13, the Retrievers went on a 9-3 spurt to draw within 24-22 on a King layup. UMBC cut the gap to 31-30 before Howard answered with a 12-0 run that gave them their biggest first-half lead after a three-point play from Alex Cotton.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Cougar Downing’s layup with two seconds left in the half sent UMBC into halftime down 49-41.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n