BOX SCORE
(BOWIE, Md.) Livingstone College did something it hadn't done since 1999. The visiting Blue Bears defeated Bowie State University's Bulldogs 62-55 to spoil BSU's conference opener. The Livingstone win was the first in BSU's A.C. Jordan Arena since November 23, 1999.
Bowie State (2-1 / 0-1 CIAA) was cold as the night air in the first half and trailed 19-9 midway at the 10:48 mark. The Bulldogs did mount a comeback with junior
Armond Hill (Silver Spring, MD, Springbrook, Montgomery - Rockville C.C.) leading the charge. Hill came off the bench to score seven of BSU's next 14 points to tie the game at 23 with 5:41 remaining and went into the half leading 31-28. Bowie State's leading scorer junior
Cassin Diggs (Williamsport, PA, Williamsport, University of Pittsburgh) was strapped with foul trouble, picking up two in the first two minutes of the game which sent him to the bench.
Livingstone (1-1 / 1-0 CIAA) cut into the deficit early on the second half, taking a 35-34 lead on a Calvin Gunning jumper at the 15:23 mark. The Blue Bears of Livingstone opened up an eight point advantage (46-38) and was poised to finish off the Bulldogs. Bowie State was able to pull within two at 46-44 on
Curtis Massey (Upper Marlboro, MD, Largo, Dodge City CC) 3-point bucket but Livingstone's David Spencer answered with a trey of his own. Junior
Corey Camphor (Upper Marlboro, MD, DeMatha) answered Spencer's three with a triple of his own to make to pull Bowie State within two again. However, that's as close as Bowie State would get.
Turnovers and cold shooting played a major role in Bowie State's loss. The Bulldogs turned the ball over 17 times on the night (12 in the second half) and hit just nine-of 27 from the floor over the final 20 minutes.
Sean Booker paced Livingstone with a game-high 21 points and Tayloe Taylor along with Santonio Springs added nine points each. Springs led both teams in rebounds with 11 (10 on the defensive glass) and Taylor dished out a game-high seven assists.
Hill led Bowie State with team-highs of 19 points and 10 rebounds. Junior
Charles Richardson (Suitland, MD, Suitland, Montgomery - Takoma Park C.C.) netted 14 points which included four-of-eight behind the arc and fellow junior
Delmar Carey (Charlotteville, VA, Monticello, Coastal Georgia C.C.) accounted for a personal BSU season best eight rebounds.
The Bulldogs will take their act on the road for a conference clash against Western Division foe Fayetteville State University. Bowie State and the Broncos will tip-off at 7:30 p.m. – Saturday (11/22) in FSU's Capel Arena.