BOX SCORE
(SALISBURY, NC) Livingstone held Bowie State to a season low 30.3% shooting from the field and beat the Bulldogs 72-69 in overtime, snapping BSU's three game winning streak. The loss puts Bowie State's record at 3-1 overall (0-1 in the CIAA) and improves Livingstone to 5-1 overall (1-0 in the CIAA).
It was not a very good first half for Bowie State but it wasn't very positive for Livingstone either. BSU's Bulldogs managed to take a slim 30-29 lead into intermission despite shooting a dismal 11-of-37 from the field, which included 1-of-10 from behind the arc. Christian Jackson came off the Bowie State bench to pace the Bulldogs in the first half with 11 points and seven boards. Bowie State led by as much as 10 points (26-16) in the first 20 minutes of action before Livingstone closed out the half with a 16-6 run.
Livingstone's first half numbers were equally as bad, as the Blue Bears hit 38.7% of its shots (12 for 31), knocked down just 3-of-12 behind the 3-point line and only 3 for 8 from the free throw line. Mario Satterthwaite led Livingstone in first half scoring (8 points) and tied for high rebound honors with five.
Bowie State led much of the second half before Livingstone's William Bryant tied the game at 50 at the 7:51 mark of regulation. The lead switched hands four times over the next 7:48 until Michael Duncan stuck a 3-pointer with 3 seconds left on the Trent Gymnasium clock, tying the score at 62 and sending the game into overtime.
Livingstone's Durrell Baker began the extra period with a triple and Tayloe Taylor (7 assists) added a free throw to give the Blue Bears a 66-62 advantage. BSU senior Orlando Wright responded with a free throw and scored on a layup to cut the Bulldogs overtime deficit to 66-65 with 3:49 remaining. Senior Jason Ingram gave the Bulldogs a 67-66 lead at the 2:57 mark but Taylor shifted the advantage back to the Bears courtesy of a trifecta. Joshua Johnson (3 points) of the Bulldogs converted two free throws with 1:34 on the clock to tie the contest at 69. However, Livingstone's Duncan scored on a layup and Calvin Gunning added a free throw to account for the final margin.
Duncan scored a game-high 17 points for Livingstone and Baker chipped in another 16 points to go along with a game-high 12 rebounds.
The Bulldogs were led by Ingram and Jackson with 15 points apiece and reserve Curtis Massey added 10 points in the loss.
Bowie State University will begin divisional play – Saturday (12/1) against Virginia Union University in the Big Apple Clasic. Tip time is set for 7 p.m. in NYC's Madison Square Garden and will be broadcasted on ESPN 360.
