Preview: Yale Bulldogs at Howard Bison WASHINGTON (Interstat) — Two of the nation’s hottest mid-major programs will collide Monday night when the Yale Bulldogs visit the Howard Bison in a non-conference men’s basketball showdown at Burr Gymnasium. The Bulldogs (16-4), riding high from the Ivy League, enter on a six-game winning streak, their last loss a narrow 67-65 defeat to Harvard on Jan. 31. Their offense has been potent, averaging 86.2 points during the streak, including a 102-point outburst against Cornell. Howard (15-9) counters with momentum of its own, having won seven of its last eight games. The Bison, a force in the MEAC, are coming off a dominant 85-57 victory over South Carolina State on Saturday. Their lone recent stumble was a one-point loss to Morgan State on Jan. 24. The spotlight will be on two standout guards. Yale’s Nick Townsend has been the catalyst for the Bulldogs’ surge, averaging 19.6 points and 5.3 assists over his last six contests. He dropped 21 points with six assists in Friday’s 81-69 win over Brown. Howard will rely on the dynamic play of Cedric Taylor, who has scored 20 or more points in four of his last five games. He is averaging 23.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists during that span, including a 27-point, 9-rebound performance in a rout of Norfolk State. Yale’s resume includes a strong road win at Penn and a competitive loss at Alabama in December. Howard boasts a notable road victory at UNC Wilmington and has protected its home court with a 9-2 record at Burr Gymnasium this season. This matchup presents a classic contrast in styles: Yale’s efficient, high-scoring offense against a Howard squad that has held its last three opponents under 60 points. The battle between Townsend and Taylor could dictate the tempo. For Yale, this is a final tune-up before a critical Ivy League back-to-back at Dartmouth and Harvard next weekend. For Howard, it’s a major opportunity to bolster its postseason resume against a high-quality opponent before returning to MEAC play. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. EST Monday, Feb. 9.