South Carolina State wins 8th straight, shares MEAC lead

ORANGEBURG, S.C. — South Carolina State extended their winning streak to eight games by defeating Howard 79-69 on Monday night.

The triumph for the Bulldogs (17-12, 10-3) put them in a tie for the top spot in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, following Norfolk State’s 91-87 overtime loss to North Carolina Central. With one game left in the regular season, South Carolina State will face North Carolina Central at home, while Norfolk State will head to Howard.

Davion Everett was a standout for the Bulldogs, scoring 19 points and securing six rebounds. Drayton Jones contributed significantly with perfect performance from the free-throw line, making all nine attempts. He added 15 points, 12 rebounds, and blocked four shots. Jayden Johnson also added 12 points.

Howard (12-18, 7-6) saw Cameron Shockley-Okeke lead their effort with 16 points and seven rebounds. Jaren Johnson chipped in with 13 points and eight rebounds, and Anwar Gill scored 12 points while grabbing six boards.

Both South Carolina State and Norfolk State split their previous encounters, each team securing a two-point victory on their home court.