BOX SCORE

(BOWIE, Md.)  Senior Eric Vann (Clinton, MD, Gwynn Park, Prince George's C.C.) stole a long Elizabeth City State inbound pass and junior Darren Clark (Largo, MD, Largo, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania) added a pair of free throws with 9.4 seconds left in the game to lift Bowie State to a thrilling 69-66 divisional win over the Vikings.

Everyone in attendance knew this game would go down to the wire as Bowie State and Elizabeth City State always seem play each other tough. Elizabeth City State holds a commanding 39-19 series advantage, but Bowie State had won 14 of the last 21 meetings between the two schools.

The first half of action featured three ties and four lead changes. Elizabeth City State led by six three times over the first 20 minutes and held a 31-28 advantage at intermission.

Despite shooting only 26 percent in the first period (10-of-38), Bowie State used a 14-0 second chance point advantage to keep the Bulldogs within striking distance. First half free throws also helped the home team as the Bulldogs stuck eight-of 10.   

Junior Travis Hyman (Annapolis, MD, Old Mill, Anne Arundel C.C.) is getting back to his old self, leading Bowie State with 12 points and nine rebounds in period one.

ECSU's Rondy Tucker opened the second half scoring, but a pair of free throws by Hyman and sophomore Bryan Wilson (Upper Marlboro, MD, Riverdale Baptist School) and a jumper by Clark gave Bowie State a 33-32 lead.

Bowie State maintained the lead until Elizabeth City State's Marquie Cooke drilled a three-pointer from the top of the key with 46 seconds left in the game, shifting the advantage over to the Vikings at 66-64. Prior to the Vikings regaining the lead, several huge dunks by Hyman and sophomore Byron Westmorland (Baltimore, MD, Mergenthaler, Baltimore City C.C.) ignited BSU's Bulldogs. However, none of those dunks were as spectacular as one by Vann with 4:16 left on the clock.

With the Bulldogs holding a one point advantage at 57-56, Vann received an in-bounds pass from Clark, flushing it through sending the 1,959 inside the A.C. Jordan Arena into high fives all around. Junior Jay Gavin (Seat Pleasant, MD, Bishop McNamara, Virginia Commonwealth University) put Bowie State ahead by five until a jumper by ECSU's Tucker followed by a Trent Bivens triple tied the game at 61-61.

A pair of free throws by Westmorland gave BSU's Bulldogs a two point lead, but the Cooke triple shifted the advantage back over to the guest from Elizabeth City State.

Omar Jones fouled a driving Vann on Bowie State's next possession and BSU's lone senior calmly sank both free throws. Following an Elizabeth State timeout, the Vikings attempted a long pass from the BSU end line which Vann stole. Elizabeth City State's Bivens was called for an intentional foul on the play sending Clark to the line for BSU's final points of the game.

Elizabeth City State (11-5, 5-3 CIAA, 1-1 North) was led by Bivens with a team-high 17 points. Teammates Paul Goldsmith and Tucker chipped in 12 and 11 points respectively for the Vikings.

Hyman had a career night for the Bulldogs, scoring 22 points, hauled down 17 rebounds and had a game-high four blocks. The trio of Vann, Clark and Westmorland rounded out Bowie State's double figure scorers with 14, 12 and 11 points respectively.

Bowie State (12-3, 7-1 CIAA, 2-0 North) returns to action Thursday (January 27th), hosting Lincoln University of Pennsylvania at 7:30 pm.