Howard senior Ose Okojie had a memorable night, as he helped the Bison to their first NCAA Tournament win. Okojie scored a career-high 23 points and helped oust UMBC 86-83 in the First Four game through a furious late comeback attempt. In fact, this was Howard’s first NCAA Tournament win ever. They made three previous runs in the tournament without any victories.
Okojie wanted to explain to the younger folks in the program what this win meant to him. He spoke of his role models and inspirations, who are now his coaches, and how they motivated him. He said:
“The reason I play so hard is because of the younger guys on our team. The freshmen, the sophomores, the juniors, I play so hard for them because I had such great role models in the game.”
Okojie then listed all the people he considers his role models. His heartfelt tribute to the program and its coaching staff under Kenneth Blakeney does make sense. Howard had not made March Madness in nearly 30 years. However, Blakeney led the program to three NCAA tournament runs and the first tournament victory.
Okojie further explained the impact his role models left on him and why he cherishes the game of basketball the way he does. He added:
“At the end of the day, the ball’s going to stop bouncing one day. But it’s how you make people feel, and the impact you have on them, and that’s what. I want to leave a lasting impact on these guys because my OGs left a great impact on me, and I love those guys to death.”
Okojie tries to be an inspiration for all the young folks playing for Howard or enrolled at the University. He believes the younger crowd in the university counts on him, just the way he counted on his seniors when he arrived at Howard as a young kid.
Howard Made a Tough Rout Against UMBC for Their Maiden NCAA Tournament Win
Howard clinched an 86-83 win over UMBC in the 2026 NCAA Tournament First Four on Tuesday in a thriller finish. Howard’s men’s and women’s basketball teams won the MEAC Tournament championships on March 14, earning automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament.
Howard dominated the first half against UMBC, shooting 7/12 from the floor and building a double-digit lead. Ose Okojie scored 16 points in the first half itself, leading the Bison to a 49-40 scoreline at the break.
But UMBC was a tough opponent. With just eight minutes left in the game, the Retrievers cut the deficit to five and put together a 9-0 run to bring the game to a two-point difference. Bryce Harris hit a turnaround jumper with 11 seconds remaining to give Howard a four-point lead. DJ Armstrong Jr. had a chance to force overtime but missed a buzzer-beater three-pointer that bounced off the backboard.
Howard will next face No. 1 seed Michigan in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Buffalo on Thursday.
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