BOX SCORE

(CHARLOTTE, N.C.) Bowie State had their three-game win streak snapped by Johnson C. Smith, falling 79-70 in the rematch between the Bulldogs and Golden Bulls. The loss moves the Bowie State University record to 9-5 overall and 7-3 in the CIAA.

The first half lead exchanged hands four times and the score was tied six times, but Bowie State could never really get over the hump. Johnson C. Smith led by as much as six four times in the first 20 minutes with the last coming at halftime with the Golden Bulls leading 39-33.

Jerry Hollis had the hot hand in the first period, scoring 12 points on six-of-10 shooting and ripped down eight first half rebounds for JCSU's Golden Bulls. Johnson C. Smith ended the first half shooting 42 percent from the field (14-of-33), which included four-of-seven behind the 3-point line.

Bowie State shot 33 percent from the field in the first half, making 12-of-36, but only three-of-13 behind the arc. Junior Eric Vann (Clinton, MD, Gwynn Park, Prince George's C.C.) was Bowie State's top offensive threat in the first period, putting 10 points into the scorebook on four-of-seven shooting.

Johnson C. Smith (10-5 / 4-4 CIAA) kept Bowie State at bay most of the second half, but Bowie State was able to pull within two three times in the second half. The last close encounter for the Bulldogs came at the 14:29 mark, trailing 45-43 after a layup by BSU senior Duke Crews (Hampton, VA, Bethel, Univ. of Tennessee).

The Johnson C. Smith lead grew to a game-high 11 points (65-54) by the 3:54 mark of the final period. Bowie State responded with an 8-0 run to close the gap to 65-62 with 1:59 left to play, but would no get any closer.

A three-point field goal and a series of two free throws by Ronald Thornhill over the final 1:41 secured the victory for Johnson C. Smith. Thornhill led JCSU's Golden Bulls with 22 points and Hollis added a double-double, 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Vann led BSU's Bulldogs with 14 points and senior Delmar Carey ended the night with 13 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. Crews contributed nine points, 11 rebounds and had a game-high four blocks.

Bowie State will host the Falcons of St. Augustine's College – Saturday (January 23) in a 7:30 p.m. conference matchup in BSU's A.C. Jordan Arena.