BOX SCORE

GAME IMAGES (Courtesy of Freddie Allen)

(BOWIE, Md.) Senior Eric Vann (Clinton, MD, Gwynn Park, Prince George's C.C.) scored a career-high 26 points and junior Darren Clark (Largo, MD, Largo, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania) pumped in 19 points to lead the Bowie State Bulldogs to a 86-76 conference win over Winston-Salem State University.   The win improves the Bowie State record to 7-2 overall (2-0 in the CIAA) while Winston-Salem State drops to 8-2 overall and 2-1 in the CIAA.  

The Rams had no problems making shots with a scorching hot 53 percent shooting percentage in the game, but 19 WSSU turnovers and just 51 shot attempts kept the points off the scoreboard for the Rams. The Rams' bench powered the effort, as the unit outscored the starters 40-36 in the game. Dominic Alston led the WSSU attack with 16 points in the game. Marcus Wells and Stephon Platt added 12 points each in the game. Shelton Carter was the only Winston-Salem State starter to reach double-digit scoring with 13 points in the game.

The Rams got off to a great start to the game when a lay-up by senior guard Andrew Jackson capped a 6-0 WSSU run to open the game. The team's hot start wouldn't last however, as the Bulldogs battled their way back into the game with a 13-4 run that left the Rams trailing, 13-10 with 13:57 left in the half. The Rams were able to bounce back and remained in control of the game for much of the half, but a late run by the Bulldogs, including a three-pointer with just six seconds left to play sent the Rams into the locker room trailing 46-40.

The battle between the two teams continued in the second half, but the Rams were never able to overcome, as a jumper by Platt at the 15:46 mark capped a 12-4 run and gave WSSU its only lead of the half, 52-50, but surge would not last as a WSSU drought put the Rams into a 66-54 deficit that the team never recovered from. The Rams would continue their fight, however, as a Carter free throw at the 1:14 mark pulled the Rams within three-points of the Bulldogs, 76-73, but it was as close as the Rams would come. The Bulldogs would hit the critical free throws needed down the stretch and sent the Rams home with their first CIAA loss of the season. 

Other double-digit scorers for Bowie State include sophomores Byron Westmorland (Baltimore, MD, Mergenthaler, Baltimore City C.C.) and Bryan Wilson (Upper Marlboro, MD, Riverdale Baptist School) with 12 and 11 points respectively.  Vann led the Bulldogs on the glass with nine while Clark handed out a BSU career-high 10 assists.

Bowie State returns to the court Thursday (1/13) hosting Shaw University at 7:30 pm.