The Howard basketball team holds the trophy after defeating Norfolk State in an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament, Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Norfolk, Va. (AP Photo/Mike Caudill)

Mike Caudill / AP Photo

For the first time in more than three decades, the Howard University men’s basketball team will play in the March Madness NCAA tournament, squaring off against the Kansas Jayhawks in the first round on Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m.

The team earned their spot with a dramatic, come-from-behind victory against rivals Norfolk State this past weekend in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship. This marks the Howard Bisons’ first trip to the NCAA tournament since 1992 and is a stunning turnaround for a team that only won four games in total during the 2019/2020 season.

Also in the Big Dance are the University of Maryland’s Terrapins, who will play West Virginia University at 12:15 on Thursday. Virginia Commonwealth is also in the running, with its first game against St. Mary’s tipping off on Friday at 2 p.m.

To watch the games — and drink or eat away their outcomes — head to the spots below, which are offering game-day watch parties and specials to celebrate the tournament’s launch.

The Big Stick: For Bison diehards, Howard’s student-athlete booster club, the Bison Express, is hosting a gameday watch party at The Big Stick. It starts at 1:30 p.m. 20 M St. SE.

Atlas Brewing (Navy Yard): Pick up two slices of pizza and a pint of beer for $10 on Thursday and Friday throughout the tournament. 1201 Half St. SE.

Duke’s Grocery (Navy Yard and Foggy Bottom): Buy five beers, get one free with Duke’s March Madness drink punch card, or fill out one of the restaurant’s brackets for the chance to win up to $200.

Franklin Hall, Quincy Hall: The sister shops are each throwing in an enticing bid for attention during the tournament — Ballston’s Quincy Hall is offering customers the chance to win $1,000 from March Madness brackets, while D.C.’s Franklin Hall recently added a 25-foot bar and nine more TVs. 1348 Florida Ave. NW; 4001 Fairfax Dr.

Hook Hall: The Park View bar is airing all of the tournament’s games, and offering $20 reservations for groups of up to eight people that include a bucket of beer. 3400 Georgia Ave. NW 

Union Pub: The bar will offer $3 shots, $5 cans of Barrel Brewing IPA, and $6 drafts of Devils Backbone to celebrate the tournament. 201 Massachusetts Ave. NE

Sports & Social Bethesda: The bar is opening early on Thursday and Friday — at 11 a.m. — to show every game of the tournament’s first round. 11800 Grand Park Ave.

Le Fantome: For a more sophisticated dining option, head to Le Fantome, which is celebrating the Terps with drink and food specials through April 3. It’s offering an $8 March Madness punch and buckets of beer for $10. Food vendors include Bombay Kitchen, Money Muscle BBQ, Vegan Junk Food, and Horu Sushi. 4501 Woodberry St.

Metrobar: This Edgewood bar with an actual Metro car stationed in the middle will be opening early on Thursday and Friday to show March Madness games, including the big Howard showdown. There will be $4 DC Brau drafts and $18 buckets. 640 Rhode Island Ave. NE

This story has been updated to include that Metrobar will also be showing the game.

Filed Under: basketball, bison, howard, march madness, NCAA, terrapins, umd,