BOX SCORE
PHOTO GALLERY (Courtesy of Carroll Smith)
(BOWIE, Md.) Senior Duke Crews (Hampton, VA, Bethel, Univ. of Tennessee) erupted for a season and game-high 26 points and 18 rebounds to lead Bowie State to a convincing 76-64 conference victory over the Golden Bulls of Johnson C. Smith. The win improves BSU's Bulldogs to 3-1 in the CIAA (3-2 overall).
Johnson C. Smith's Golden Bulls got into a rhythm late in the first half. The Golden Bulls went on a 10-0 scoring run halfway through the first that lasted about four minutes. The spurt put JCSU ahead 25-16 with 6:53 remaining. Bowie State responded with their own scoring run and eventually tied the game 29 apiece at the 2:18 mark.
Johnson C. Smith (3-3, 1-2 CIAA) was up 36-35 at halftime. Senior forward Jerry Hollis (Charlotte, N.C.) returned to the starting line-up and produced 12 points, five rebounds, and three assists in the opening period. Sophomore center Michael Cooper (New Rochelle, N.Y.) had seven points off the bench. Speaking of the bench, Johnson C. Smith's bench was outscored by Bowie State's bench 40 to 28 for the game.
Five minutes into the second half, the game had reached a ninth tie. The Bulldogs put together consecutive scoring series in the post en route to a 14-1 run. The run allowed Bowie to grab a double digit lead, which they managed until the conclusion of the game.
The Golden Bulls shot 27 percent from the floor in the second half (11-of-41) and 30 percent for the game (23-of-78). BSU was slightly ahead in rebounding 55-47 and shot 40 percent from the field (25-of-62).
Hollis finished with a team-high 23 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists. Cooper had nine points and senior forward James Dillard (Apex, NC) pitched in with seven points, seven rebounds, and two blocks.
As a team, Bowie State swatted away 10 Johnson C. Smith shots with sophomore Travis Hyman (Annapolis, MD, Old Mill, Prince George's C.C.) rejected a game-high seven on the night. Hyman also contributed eight points and eight rebounds for the Bulldogs. Junior Eric Vann (Clinton, MD, Gwynn Park, Prince George's C.C.) scored a season high 19 points on six-of-10 shooting and added four steals.
Bowie State returns to action – Wednesday, December 9th on the road at West Virginia State University.
