BOX SCORE

(SALISBURY, N.C.) Senior Eric Vann (Clinton, MD, Gwynn Park, Prince George's C.C.) scored a game-high 25 points, which included a game winning 3-pointer with five seconds left in the game to lift Bowie State University to a 78-75 victory over Livingstone College. The win, Bowie State's fifth in a row, improved the Bulldogs record to 10-2 overall and 5-0 in the CIAA.

The visiting Bulldogs of Bowie State opened the game with a 7-2 run and extended that lead to 11-4 in the first five minutes. Livingstone shook off the cold start and went on an 8-0 to take its first lead at 12-11 at the 12:50 mark of the opening period.

Bowie State would lead only once more in the first half (13-12) and Livingstone (6-4, 2-2 CIAA) strolled into halftime with a 43-32 advantage with Nasir Austin leading the Blue Bears offense with 13 points on five for 11 shooting in the opening session. 

Bowie State swatted away seven shots in the first 20 minutes of action with junior Travis Hyman (Annapolis, MD, Old Mill, Anne Arundel C.C.) responsible for five. However, Hyman picked up two early fouls and had to sit much of the first period.

Hyman scored Bowie State's first field goal of the second half, but picked up his third foul on Livingstone's next trip down the court and had to return to the Bulldogs bench.

Sophomore Bryan Wilson (Upper Marlboro, MD, Riverdale Baptist School) narrowed the gap to 44-40 on a trey and pulled the Bulldogs within two (50-48) with 15:58 to go.

Vann knocked down a jumper at the 12:51 mark to knot things up at 55-55. After that, Vann stole the ball and passed to a streaking Byron Westmorland (Baltimore, MD, Mergenthaler, Baltimore City C.C.) who scored on a thunderous dunk to give the Bulldogs a 60-57 advantage.

In the final 10 minutes of action, the game was tied four times and the lead changed hands six times. Overall, the game featured six ties and 10 lead changes.

Junior Darren Clark (Largo, MD, Largo, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania) hit a three and Hyman followed up with another dunk to give the Bulldogs a 72-69 advantage with 3:27 left to play.

Greg Henry hit one-of-two free throws on Livingstone's next trip down the floor, but BSU junior Jay Gavin (Seat Pleasant, MD, Bishop McNamara, Virginia Commonwealth University) answered with a lay-up on the Bulldogs' next possession. A Henry jump with 12 seconds left on the Trent Gymnasium clock, sent the home crowd into a frenzy as the Blue Bears regained the lead at 75-74.
 
Vann's rainbow three seven seconds later combined with a pair of Clark free throws sealed the win for the Bulldogs.

Freeman scored a team-high 18 points and Henry along with Donte Durant added 17 and 10 points respectively for Livingstone.

Other double-figure scorers for Bowie State include Hyman (14 points), Gavin (12 points), Wilson (11) and Clark (10). Hyman also pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds to lead both teams and blocked a game-high seven shots.

The Bowie State University Bulldogs travel to Johnson C. Smith University for a rematch with the Golden Bulls – Thursday (January 20th) at 7:30 pm. Bowie State defeated Johnson C. Smith (95-81) in the opening game of the Fresh Coast Classic in Milwaukee (WI) during the Thanksgiving break.