South Carolina State Edges Howard in Nail-Biter
Saturday, January 3, 2026, 4:30 PM ET · Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center
South Carolina State Bulldogs 58, Howard Bison 57, 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 South Carolina State Bulldogs?
South Carolina State Bulldogs beat Howard Bison 58-57 at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center on January 3, 2026.
Who was favored in Howard Bison vs South Carolina State Bulldogs?
Howard Bison were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -395 (about 80% implied). The underdog won.
In a thrilling matchup at the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center, the South Carolina State Bulldogs narrowly defeated the Howard Bison with a final score of 58-57. This game was particularly noteworthy as it showcased the Bulldogs' resilience and ability to secure a much-needed victory against a team they had previously bested in their last two encounters.
Entering this game, South Carolina State had struggled significantly, holding a record of 2-14 overall and a dismal 1-9 in their last ten games, with a streak of two consecutive losses. Their recent form has been characterized by a scoring average of 67.1 points per game while allowing an average of 87.9 points, indicating defensive vulnerabilities. Their last five games reflected a similar trend, with an average of 68.4 points scored and 86.8 points allowed. The Bulldogs' home record stood at 1-1, while they were winless in eight away games.
On the other hand, the Howard Bison came into this contest with a record of 9-7 and had been performing relatively well, winning seven of their last ten games. However, they were on a one-game losing streak following a 60-80 defeat to the Northwestern Wildcats. The Bison averaged 74.6 points scored and allowed 71.0 points during their last ten games, with a home record of 5-0 and an away record of 2-3. Their recent form suggested a balanced approach, but they faced challenges on the road.
Historically, South Carolina State had the upper hand in their previous meetings against Howard, winning both matchups in the 2025 season. They defeated the Bison 89-66 in an away game on February 4 and followed it up with a home victory of 79-69 on March 4. This history added an extra layer of intrigue to the matchup, as the Bulldogs sought to continue their dominance.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details, but the overall performance of both teams suggested that they were fielding their regular lineups. The betting market, as reported by DraftKings, had Howard favored by 8.5 points, with a total set at 144.5. The odds reflected the Bison's stronger record, but the Bulldogs' previous successes against them may have influenced the close nature of the game.
The conditions for the game appeared conducive for basketball, with no adverse weather or external factors mentioned in the block. Fans were treated to a competitive atmosphere, with both teams looking to assert themselves early on.
As the game unfolded, it became a tightly contested affair, with both teams exchanging leads throughout. Key moments included a series of free throws made by Bryce Harris, which brought the Bison close, but ultimately, Jayden Johnson's 13-foot jumper, assisted by Florian Tenebay, sealed the victory for South Carolina State. The final scoring plays highlighted the tension of the closing moments, with Howard's attempts to regain the lead falling short.
This victory not only provided a much-needed boost for South Carolina State but also emphasized the unpredictability of college basketball, where any team can emerge victorious on a given night. The Bulldogs' ability to hold off the Bison despite their struggles this season will undoubtedly be a point of pride as they move forward.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | HOW -8.5 | 144.5 o -110 / u -110 | Howard Bison -395 · South Carolina State Bulldogs +310 |
Leaders
- PointsJayden Johnson24South Carolina State Bulldogs
- AssistsJayden Johnson4South Carolina State Bulldogs
- ReboundsCameron Clark8South Carolina State Bulldogs
- PointsOse Okojie18Howard Bison
- AssistsCedric Taylor III3Howard Bison
- ReboundsCedric Taylor III11Howard Bison
Recent form
South Carolina State Bulldogs
Last 10: 1-9Streak L267.1 scored · 87.9 allowed per game1-1 at home
- L54-105at Tennessee VolunteersDec 31
- L70-95at South Carolina GamecocksDec 22
- W68-54vs Brewton Parker WildcatsDec 19
- L72-78vs South Carolina Upstate SpartansDec 16
- L78-102at Queens University RoyalsDec 13
- L44-84at Charleston Southern BuccaneersDec 9
- L59-80at Bethune-Cookman WildcatsDec 6
- L79-101at Winthrop EaglesNov 29
- L66-98at Missouri TigersNov 26
- L81-82at South Dakota CoyotesNov 23
Howard Bison
Last 10: 7-3Streak L174.6 scored · 71 allowed per game2-3 away
- 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
- W115-61vs St. Mary's (MD) SeahawksNov 26
- L56-93at Duke Blue DevilsNov 23
- W80-70vs Niagara Purple EaglesNov 22
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 | South Carolina State Bulldogs |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 16-52 | 20-45 |
| Field goal % | 31 | 44 |
| Three-pointers | 4-23 | 4-12 |
| Three-point % | 17 | 33 |
| Free throws | 21-33 | 14-20 |
| Free throw % | 64 | 70 |
| Rebounds | 26 | 32 |
| Offensive rebounds | 8 | 9 |
| Defensive rebounds | 18 | 23 |
| Assists | 9 | 11 |
| Steals | 9 | 2 |
| Blocks | 5 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 21 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 21 | 12 |
| Fast-break points | 8 | 11 |
| Points in the paint | 22 | 20 |
| Fouls | 18 | 24 |
| Largest lead | 1 | 14 |
| Lead changes | 2 | 2 |
| Time in front | 1 | 98 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half23-37Jayden Johnson makes 27-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half25-37Calvin Robins Jr. makes layup (Cedric Taylor III assists)
- 2nd Half27-37Ose Okojie makes 3-foot dunk (Bryce Harris assists)
- 2nd Half27-38Chris Parker makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half29-38Ose Okojie makes layup (Bryce Harris assists)
- 2nd Half29-39Owen Bronston Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half29-40Owen Bronston Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half32-40Cam Gillus makes 24-foot three point jumper (Ose Okojie assists)
- 2nd Half33-40Bryce Harris makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half34-40Bryce Harris makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half35-40Alex Cotton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half36-40Alex Cotton makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half36-42Jayden Johnson makes 19-foot jumper
- 2nd Half36-43Jayden Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half36-44Jayden Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half36-45Jayden Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half36-46Jayden Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half39-46Ose Okojie makes 24-foot three point jumper (Cedric Taylor III assists)
- 2nd Half39-48Cameron Clark makes 2-foot dunk (Jayden Johnson assists)
- 2nd Half40-48Cedric Taylor III makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half41-48Cedric Taylor III makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half41-50James Morrow makes 2-foot dunk (Cameron Clark assists)
- 2nd Half43-50Bryce Harris makes layup
- 2nd Half44-50Cedric Taylor III makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half45-50Cedric Taylor III makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half45-52Cameron Clark makes 2-foot dunk (Jayden Johnson assists)
- 2nd Half45-53Cameron Clark makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half45-54Florian Tenebay makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half47-54Cam Gillus makes layup
- 2nd Half47-55Florian Tenebay makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half47-56Florian Tenebay makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half49-56Ose Okojie makes layup (Cam Gillus assists)
- 2nd Half50-56Bryce Harris makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-56Bryce Harris makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half52-56Bryce Harris makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half54-56Ose Okojie makes layup
- 2nd Half55-56Cedric Taylor III makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-56Isaiah Brown makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half57-56Isaiah Brown makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-58Jayden Johnson makes 13-foot jumper (Florian Tenebay assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours South Carolina State Bulldogs, below favours Howard Bison.
Venue
- Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial CenterOrangeburg, SC
- Attendance425
- OfficialsKendell Ridley, Cameron Padgett
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond