BOX SCORE

(MANSFIELD, Pa.) Bowie State University seniors Duke Crews (Hampton, VA, Bethel, Univ. of Tennessee) and Andrew Engel (Glen Burnie, MD, Old Mill, Colby C.C.) combined for 39 points, but it wasn't enough as Mansfield University held on to defeat the Bulldogs 83-73 in the season opener for both teams. 

“In losing the game, there were some encouraging things,” said first-year head coach Darrell Brooks. “We played our game but just have to continue to put together more minutes playing our brand of basketball … Pressure defense, rebounding and running good transition.”

The Mountaineers of Mansfield led by as much as 12 points twice in the opening period (28-16 and 31-19) before Bowie State went on a 9-0 run to close the gap to 31-28 at the 4:21 mark. Ryan Callahan converted Mansfield's first free throws of the game with just over three minutes remaining in the first half. Mansfield pushed their lead back to double-digits (41-30) and went into intermission with an 11 point cushion.

Senior Armond Hill (Silver Spring, MD, Springbrook, Montgomery - Rockville C.C.) led BSU's Bulldogs in first half scoring with eight points. Crews and sophomore Travis Hyman (Annapolis, MD, Old Mill, Prince George's C.C.) added six points each in the first 20 minutes. As a team, Bowie State shot 31 percent from the field (11-of-35) and a perfect six-of-six from the charity stripe.

Mansfield shot extremely well behind the arc in the first half, knocking down seven 3-pointers, with Chris Pender leading the way with three first period triples.

The Mansfield lead grew to a game-high 16 points early in the second half, forcing Bowie State to call its third timeout of the contest. Bowie State trimmed the deficit down to single digits (56-48) on a Crews layup.

Both teams went scoreless over a two-minute period before a Hyman dunk closed the margin to 57-51 at the 11:20 mark. Bowie State was able to pull to within five (77-72) with 1:48 remaining in the game following a deep 3-pointer by Engel, but would get no closer.

Four-of-five Mansfield starters scored in double figures with Yusef Carr leading the Mountaineers with 23 points. Tony Fannick and Callahan scored 17 points each and Pender added 16 points. Fannick pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds and Carr was responsible for nine.

Crews paced the Bulldogs with 25 points. Engel, Hill and Hyman contributed 14, 12 and 11 points respectively. Senior Delmar Carey (Charlotteville, VA, Monticello, Coastal Georgia C.C.) led Bowie State in rebounds with 11.

Brooks summed up his remarks by saying, “I'm excited about moving forward with the season, playing our next game and look forward to the opportunity to continue developing into a good basketball team.”

Bowie State will begin conference play – Saturday, November 21st, traveling to Murfreesboro (NC) to play Chowan University at 2 p.m.