BOX SCORE
(MANSFIELD, PA) The road weary Bulldogs made the five plus hour track back to Mansfield to make-up last Thursday's (12/13) snow postponement against the Mountaineers but ran out of steam in the second half, dropping an 85-70 decision. The loss dips Bowie State's record to 5-4 but improves Mansfield to an impressive 9-1 record.
Senior Carlos Williams was the Bulldogs' team leader in the first half, netting 12 points on four-of-eight shooting. Mansfield went on a 9-0 run to take a 12-6 advantage at the 14:33 mark of the first half. The Mountaineers went on anther run (8-3) to push the Mansfield lead to 20-9 with just over 12 minutes left. Bowie State dug deep to retake the lead at 35-33 on a jumper by senior Arthur Bowers by the 3:45 mark. The lead switched hands four times in final moments of the first half as the Bulldogs and Mountaineers stepped into halftime tied at 43. Both teams shot pretty well from the floor as Bowie State shot 14-of 30 (46. percent) from the field and Mansfield was one better, making 15-of-31 (48.4 percent) from the field.
The second half was a complete melt down for Bowie State but a heat wave for Mansfield. Bowie State led the first nine minutes of the second half but started to stumble from that point. Mansfield's John Hampton put the Mountaineers in front to stay at 57-56 and eventually extended that lead to 70-58 with 5:08 remaining in the game. Bowie State matched its first half turnover total (11) in the final 20 minutes, translating into 13 Mansfield points off turnovers. Field goal shooting declined in the second half for Bowie State as the Bulldogs managed just 10-of-31 which included two for 12 behind the three-point line. Making matters worse for BSU's Bulldogs, three of its five starters (David Paris, Jason Ingram and Bowers) fouled out of the contest.
Mansfield only put up 21 second half field goal attempts but made 12 (57.1 percent). Mansfield's Mountaineers made 25 trips to the charity stripe in the second half, making 16 compared to five-of-six for Bowie State.
Hampton paced Mansfield with a game-high 21 points and Chris Greene chipped in another 12 points. Brandon Lawley scored 11 points in the Mountaineers win and the duo of Chris Pender and Ryan Callahan recorded 10 points apiece.
The Bulldogs were led by Williams with a team-high 17 points and four assists. Senior Joshua Johnson played another consistent game, recording his third double-double of the season with 13 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
Bowie State will take a few days off to enjoy Christmas before returning to the hardwood – Saturday (12/28) against Edinboro (PA) in the opening round of the Perreco Cup hosted by Gannon University.
