BOX SCORE

(NEW YORK, NY) For the second year in a row, poor field goal shooting was the primary reason Bowie State suffered a loss in the Big Apple Classic. The Bulldogs shot a season-low 30 percent from the field, combined with a 12-0 VUU run with just over 14 minutes in the first half, contributed to Virginia Union's rather easy 76-65 victory in the Big Apple Classic.

The game began with a 6-1 Virginia Union run and the Panthers expanded that lead to 17-10 by the 13:26 mark. Virginia Union stretched that lead to 27-12 but the BSU Bulldogs battled back to close the gap to 34-27 by halftime. Unfortunately, several players were ejected from the game just before intermission due to a squirmish in front of the Bowie State bench. Virginia Union's LaKeith Blanks along with Bowie State's Carlos Williams and Anthony Ivory were tossed from the game for the altercation.

Bowie State could get no closer that nine points in the second half (62-53) and continued to struggle from the floor. The Bulldogs' field goal shooting improved slightly (33.3%) but it also improved for Virginia Union. The Panthers converted 17 of 27 second half field goal attempts (63.0%) and outscored the Bulldogs 22-16 in the paint in the final 20 minutes.

The Bulldogs of Bowie State were paced by Christian Jackson with 18 points and Arthur Bowers along with Curtis Massey added 11 points each. Massey also led BSU with nine rebounds.

Brad and Brandon Byerson led the Panthers of Virginia Union with 18 points apiece and Gregg Thondique pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.

Bowie State returns to action – Wednesday (12/5) at Lincoln (PA) University with tip-off set for 8:00 p.m.