BOX SCORE

PHOTO GALLERY (Courtesy of Lawrence Johnson)

(BOWIE, Md.) Senior guard Aaron Caruthers totaled 27 points and junior guard Jarred Stockton notched a double-double (18 points and 14 rebounds) as the Livingstone College Blue Bears stayed undefeated in CIAA play by downing the Bowie State University Bulldogs 72-62.

With the victory the Blue Bears improved to 3-2 overall and 3-0 in the CIAA while Bowie State drops to 2-2 overall and 2-1 in the conference.

Bowie State got out to the early lead as they went up 10-3 in the first few minutes. Also in the first ten minutes of the game Livingstone's two big men, Keith Darden and Virgil Taylor got into foul trouble which could've easily played into the hands of the Bulldogs. Bowie was unable to take advantage of the size difference, shooting only 29 percent from the floor and 33 percent from the free-throw line.

Caruthers provided a much-needed spark to the Livingstone offense as he scored 11 points in the first half on 5-of-9 shooting and also pulled down three offensive rebounds. The Blue Bears got to the charity stripe only twice in the first half, missing both attempts. Livingstone trailed by two at the half, 24-22.

Bowie State picked up the first four points of the second half to increase their lead to six at 28-22. Livingstone battled back and took their first lead of the game with 15 minutes left on a Darden three pointer. Over the first 10 minutes of the second half there were a total of 15 fouls called and the teams started trading points from the free-throw line and Bowie State regained a three-point edge at 44-41.

Caruthers put the Blue Bears back on top 45-44 from the charity stripe and Jarred Stockton connected on a big three pointer with 7:45 left to put Livingstone up four at 50-46. As the clock ticked under four minutes to go the Blue Bears held a five-point edge before Stockton knocked down another long-range shot to put Livingstone up by eight at 58-50. A Bowie State timeout produced a quick two points for the Bulldogs, but the Blue Bears quickly bumped their lead back to up to double digits and led by 11 with just over two minutes to play.

A comfortable 13-point lead with 90 seconds to play in the game turned into a much closer seven-point edge with less than a minute in the game after the Blue Bears didn't convert some free throw opportunities and turned the ball over late. Despite the late troubles for Livingstone the Blue Bears were able to stave off the Bulldogs comeback and take the game 72-62.

As a team, the Blue Bears shot 41 percent from the field (24-of-59) while Bowie State shot a season-low 38 percent (23-of-60). Bowie State pulled down 47 rebounds compared to 40 for Livingstone. The Blue Bears struggled from the free throw line, hitting on only 56 percent of their free throw attempts (11-of-28). 

Bowie State had a horrific evening at the charity stripe, as the Bulldogs shot an embarrassing 11-of-28 (39 percent).  The Bulldogs were four-of-12 from the free throw line in the first 20 minutes and shot 29 percent from the field in the first half. making just nine-of-31 attempts.

Senior Armond Hill (Silver Spring, MD, Springbrook, Montgomery - Rockville C.C.) led Bowie State's limited offense with nine points and 11 rebounds.  Senior Andrew Engel (Glen Burnie, MD, Old Mill, Colby C.C.) and junior Eric Vann (Clinton, MD, Gwynn Park, Prince George's C.C.) scored eight points each and sophomore Travis Hyman (Annapolis, MD, Old Mill, Prince George's C.C.) chipped in seven points and blocked a game-high three shots.

Bowie State welcomes the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls to  BSU's A.C. Jordan Arena - Monday, November 30th for a 7:30 p.m conference tilt.