BOX SCORE

(BOWIE, Md.)  Senior Eric Vann (Clinton, MD, Gwynn Park, Prince George's C.C.) scored a team-high 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting to lead Bowie State over a fast-finishing Virginia Union squad 78-76. The win improves the Bulldogs record to 22-4 overall, 16-2 CIAA and 11-1 in the division and clinch the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Northern Division title for the second straight season.

“This was a win we needed (we need them all) and we want to continue to try and play our best basketball heading into the (CIAA) Tournament”, said Bowie State coach Darrell Brooks. “Winning the Northern Division was one of our goals and I'm really proud of these guys.”

The Bowie State Bulldogs never trailed in the game and led by as much as 17 points in the first half, holding a 33-17 advantage. Bowie State's defense held the Virginia Union Panthers to eight-of-28 field goal shooting in the first half (29 percent). The Bulldogs shot 44 percent from the field on 11-of-25 shooting in the first period and held a 38-28 lead at halftime.

Bowie State maintained a double-digit lead until Virginia Union's Braxton Byerson drilled a 3-pointer to pull the Panthers within eight at 53-45 at the 13:58 mark.

Virginia Union (14-8, 12-5 CIAA, 8-3 North) made the game very interesting in the final two minutes, closing the gap to four (74-70) following a pair of free throws by Wayne Ford. Ford cut the Panthers deficit to 76-73 with half a minute left to play, but a Vann layup sealed the victory for Bowie State.

Junior Travis Hyman (Annapolis, MD, Old Mill, Anne Arundel C.C.) helped Vann with 16 points, nine rebounds and four blocks and sophomore Byron Westmorland (Baltimore, MD, Mergenthaler, Baltimore City C.C.) added 15 points. Junior Darren Clark (Largo, MD, Largo, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania) pulled down a career-high 12 rebounds and handed out a team-high six assists for the Bulldogs.

Byerson finished with 25 points for the Panthers and Jamaal Blalock contributed 17 points. Byerson, Blalock and Gregory Redford led Virginia Union with six rebounds apiece and Branden McDonald dished out a game-high 12 assists.

The Bulldogs enter next week's CIAA Tournament as the #1 Seed in the North and will receive a first round bye. Bowie State will see its first tournament action on Thursday (March 3) against the winner of the #4S / #5N contest at a time to be determined.