Howard Bison Defeat North Carolina Central Eagles 83-69
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 4:30 PM ET · McDougald-McLendon Arena
Howard Bison 83, North Carolina Central Eagles 69, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Howard Bison vs North Carolina Central Eagles?
Howard Bison beat North Carolina Central Eagles 83-69 at McDougald-McLendon Arena on January 17, 2026.
Who was favored in Howard Bison vs North Carolina Central Eagles?
Howard Bison were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -155 (about 61% implied). The favorite won.
In a decisive matchup, the Howard Bison defeated the North Carolina Central Eagles with a final score of 83-69 at the McDougald-McLendon Arena. This victory is significant for Howard, as it improves their record to 12-8, while the Eagles fall to 7-13. The game showcased Howard's ability to capitalize on their recent form, which has seen them win six of their last ten games, including a current winning streak of one. In contrast, North Carolina Central has shown resilience with a 5-5 record in their last ten games, but they are currently on a three-game winning streak.
Howard's recent performance has been characterized by an average of 69.3 points scored and 67.1 points allowed over their last ten games. Their last match ended in a strong victory against the Delaware State Hornets, where they won 84-58. The Bison's away record stands at 2-4, indicating some struggles on the road, but their overall form has been solid, particularly at home where they boast a 4-0 record.
On the other hand, North Carolina Central has been averaging 77.3 points scored and 74.8 points allowed in their last ten games. Their recent games include a notable victory against the Morgan State Bears, where they won 89-78. The Eagles have shown they can score effectively, but their defensive shortcomings have been apparent, particularly in their last five games, where they averaged 77.0 points scored but also allowed 77.2 points.
Historically, the matchup between these two teams has been competitive, with their head-to-head record standing at 1-1 from the previous season. In their last meeting on March 1, 2025, North Carolina Central emerged victorious with a score of 72-68, while Howard claimed a win earlier in the season on February 8, 2025, with a score of 82-78.
In terms of injuries, the block does not provide specific details on player availability, but the impact of injuries can often play a crucial role in the dynamics of such games. The market has priced the matchup with Howard as a 2.5-point favorite according to DraftKings, indicating a competitive outlook for the game. The total points line was set at 141.5, reflecting expectations for a moderately high-scoring affair.
The conditions for the game were conducive to an exciting matchup, and viewers were treated to a display of scoring prowess, particularly from Howard. Key plays in the second half included free throws from Tekao Carpenter and a series of layups and dunks from Cedric Taylor III and Ose Okojie, which helped Howard pull away decisively in the latter stages of the game.
Overall, this game highlighted Howard's ability to perform under pressure and capitalize on their scoring opportunities, while North Carolina Central will need to address their defensive issues moving forward.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | HOW -2.5 | 141.5 o -105 / u -115 | Howard Bison -155 · North Carolina Central Eagles +130 |
Leaders
- PointsTekao Carpenter21North Carolina Central Eagles
- AssistsDionte Johnson9North Carolina Central Eagles
- ReboundsDionte Johnson8North Carolina Central Eagles
- PointsBryce Harris20Howard Bison
- AssistsBryce Harris4Howard Bison
- ReboundsBryce Harris13Howard Bison
Recent form
North Carolina Central Eagles
Last 10: 5-5Streak W377.3 scored · 74.8 allowed per game3-2 at home
- W89-78at Morgan State BearsJan 12
- W88-77at Coppin State EaglesJan 10
- W69-67vs Norfolk State SpartansJan 3
- L67-90at Penn State Nittany LionsDec 29
- L72-74vs Longwood LancersDec 20
- W96-62vs Mid Atlantic Christian MustangsDec 18
- L67-103at Kentucky WildcatsDec 10
- L54-69vs North Carolina A&T AggiesDec 6
- L62-67at James Madison DukesDec 4
- W109-61vs Carolina University BruinsNov 29
Howard Bison
Last 10: 6-4Streak W169.3 scored · 67.1 allowed per game2-4 away
- W84-58vs Delaware State HornetsJan 13
- L57-69at Maryland Eastern Shore HawksJan 10
- L57-58at South Carolina State BulldogsJan 3
- L60-80at Northwestern WildcatsDec 30
- W67-66at UNC Wilmington SeahawksDec 20
- W74-66at Drexel DragonsDec 16
- W61-57vs Hampton PiratesDec 13
- W73-69vs North Carolina A&T AggiesDec 10
- W85-69vs Bowie State BulldogsDec 6
- L75-79at Mount St. Mary's MountaineersNov 29
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard | 24-11 | - | 11-3 |
| Morgan State | 14-16 | 1 | 10-4 |
| Norfolk State | 15-17 | 3 | 8-6 |
| North Carolina Central | 14-18 | 3 | 8-6 |
| South Carolina State | 10-22 | 4 | 7-7 |
| Maryland Eastern Shore | 9-23 | 6 | 5-9 |
| Coppin State | 7-24 | 6 | 5-9 |
| Delaware State | 8-23 | 9 | 2-12 |
Box score
| Stat | Howard Bison | North Carolina Central Eagles |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 33-66 | 25-58 |
| Field goal % | 50 | 43 |
| Three-pointers | 6-23 | 10-26 |
| Three-point % | 26 | 38 |
| Free throws | 11-15 | 9-15 |
| Free throw % | 73 | 60 |
| Rebounds | 43 | 31 |
| Offensive rebounds | 17 | 11 |
| Defensive rebounds | 26 | 20 |
| Assists | 14 | 17 |
| Steals | 11 | 5 |
| Blocks | 4 | 8 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 14 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 19 | 22 |
| Fast-break points | 17 | 5 |
| Points in the paint | 48 | 26 |
| Fouls | 16 | 16 |
| Largest lead | 18 | 7 |
| Lead changes | 4 | 4 |
| Time in front | 71 | 23 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half41-39Jae Slack makes 25-foot three point jumper (Dionte Johnson assists)
- 2nd Half42-39Bryce Harris makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half44-39Ose Okojie makes driving layup
- 2nd Half45-39Travelle Bryson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half47-39Cedric Taylor III makes 18-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half50-39Travelle Bryson makes 25-foot three point jumper (Cedric Taylor III assists)
- 2nd Half50-41Gage Lattimore makes 15-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half52-41Bryce Harris makes layup
- 2nd Half54-41Ose Okojie makes driving layup
- 2nd Half56-41Bryce Harris makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half59-41Cedric Taylor III makes 25-foot three point jumper (Cam Gillus assists)
- 2nd Half59-44Gage Lattimore makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jae Slack assists)
- 2nd Half59-46Gage Lattimore makes 12-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half59-48Kyric Davis makes 5-foot dunk (Jae Slack assists)
- 2nd Half59-50Kelechi Okworogwo makes 4-foot dunk
- 2nd Half59-52Jae Slack makes layup (Kelechi Okworogwo assists)
- 2nd Half61-52Cedric Taylor III makes layup
- 2nd Half63-52Bryce Harris makes layup (Cam Gillus assists)
- 2nd Half63-54Gage Lattimore makes layup (Dionte Johnson assists)
- 2nd Half64-54Bryce Harris makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half65-54Bryce Harris makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-54Calvin Robins Jr. makes layup (Bryce Harris assists)
- 2nd Half69-54Calvin Robins Jr. makes 2-foot dunk (Cam Gillus assists)
- 2nd Half69-55Dionte Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-56Dionte Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-56Ose Okojie makes driving layup
- 2nd Half71-59Gage Lattimore makes 25-foot three point jumper (Dionte Johnson assists)
- 2nd Half73-59Travelle Bryson makes driving layup
- 2nd Half74-59Travelle Bryson makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half74-62Tekao Carpenter makes 23-foot three point jumper (Dionte Johnson assists)
- 2nd Half74-65Tekao Carpenter makes 25-foot three point jumper (Dionte Johnson assists)
- 2nd Half76-65Ose Okojie makes 4-foot dunk (Bryce Harris assists)
- 2nd Half76-66Tekao Carpenter makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Half76-67Tekao Carpenter makes free throw 2 of 3
- 2nd Half78-67Cedric Taylor III makes layup
- 2nd Half79-67Cedric Taylor III makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half81-67Bryce Harris makes 3-foot dunk (Cedric Taylor III assists)
- 2nd Half83-67Ose Okojie makes layup
- 2nd Half83-68Tekao Carpenter makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half83-69Tekao Carpenter makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours North Carolina Central Eagles, below favours Howard Bison.
Venue
- McDougald-McLendon ArenaDurham, NC
- Attendance2318
- OfficialsHaywood Bostic, Freddie Williams, Joe Prince
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