BOX SCORE

Photo Gallery (Courtesy of Carroll Smith)

(BOWIE, Md.) Bowie State University put a saddle on Fayetteville State University and off into the night with a 79-62 conference victory over the Broncos. Senior Duke Crews (Hampton, VA, Bethel, Univ. of Tennessee) just missed a double-double, scoring a game-high 22 points and added nine rebounds and five blocks to pace Bowie State.

The first half featured three ties and four lead changes but Bowie State shot 50 percent from the field (17-of-34) in the first half and led Fayetteville State 48-38 at the break. Crews scored 18 of his points in the first period on six-of-six shooting from the floor and another six-of-six at the free throw line.

Fayetteville State's Broncos shot pretty well in the opening period as well, connecting on 15-of-36 field goal attempts (42 percent), which included five-of-eight behind the three-point line.

The Bowie State lead never fell below 10 points in the second half and the Bulldogs controlled the glass, holding a commanding 51-39 rebound advantage. The Bowie State defense forced 16 Fayetteville State turnovers and converted those turnovers into 21 points.

Fayetteville State (4-8 / 1-5 CIAA) was led by Michael Carpenter and Ariel Robinson with 14 points each and Jamel Baxter added 13 points. Carpenter also dished out a game-high six assists to go along with five rebounds. Benjamin Davis was the Broncos leading rebounder with seven.

BSU senior Andrew Engel (Glen Burnie, MD, Old Mill, Colby C.C.) scored 16 points on five-of-nine shooting (four-of-eight) beyond the 3-point line and sophomore Travis Hyman (Annapolis, MD, Old Mill, Prince George's C.C.) chipped in nine points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots.

There will be no time to rest for Bowie State as the Bulldogs travel to Shepherd (W.Va.) tomorrow (1/12) for a 7 p.m. makeup against the Rams.