NCAA Men's First Four: UMBC Faces Howard

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Tonight, the madness begins. For the America East Conference, it means a stop in Dayton, Ohio, for the UMBC Retrievers (24–6) as they face Howard University (23–11) of the MEAC in a First Four matchup. This marks the first time since 2014 that an America East automatic qualifier has played in Dayton and just the second time ever; both previous instances resulted in wins (Vermont in 2012 and Albany in 2014). For UMBC, this is their third tournament appearance and their first since 2018. The game is set to tip off at 6:40 PM on TruTV.

These two programs have met seven times previously, with Howard leading the all-time series 5–2. However, the Retrievers claimed the most recent meeting a year ago with a 95–77 victory. UMBC enters the tournament on a 12-game winning streak, the second-longest active streak in the country. Their .750 winning percentage ranks 36th nationally, supported by a disciplined defense that ranks 2nd in the country in fewest fouls allowed (13.3 per game) and 28th in scoring defense (67.3 PPG). They also excel on the glass, ranking 21st in defensive rebounds per game (27.3), and at the charity stripe, where their 76.2% free-throw shooting ranks 47th in the nation.

During their current 12-game streak, the Retrievers have been dominant, winning 10 of those matches by double figures with an average margin of victory of 16.3 PPG. Their efficiency has been remarkable, shooting .811 from the field (197-for-243) while holding opponents to just .394 shooting. They have also outrebounded opponents by 5.8 boards per game and shot .374 from three-point range. The team boasts a balanced attack, with six players averaging at least 8.4 points per game.

Howard arrives in Dayton having won the MEAC for the third time in the last four years, marking their sixth conference tournament title and fifth overall NCAA appearance. Key players to watch for the Bison include MEAC Player of the Year Bryce Harris and Defensive Player of the Year Cedric Taylor III. Head coach Kenneth Blakeney is now in his seventh year leading the program.

The winner of this First Four showdown will head to Buffalo, NY, to face the top-seeded Michigan Wolverines on Friday.