Box Score (RALEIGH, N.C.)  For the second game in a row, nationally ranked Bowie State University came up short, this time dropping an 83-73 decision at Shaw University.  Entering the game ranked #12 in the NABC Poll, the Bulldogs setback puts the Bowie State record at 9-3 overall (1-2 CIAA).

“Tonight we played a true CIAA Championship contender and NCAA Tournament participant who are very good in (C.C. Spaulding) in that building … this was a great atmosphere”, said a relatively satisfied Bowie State head coach Darrell Brooks.  “Shaw had a few more key moments than we did and turnovers (17) hurt us.”

The Bears struggled out of the gate and trailed by as much as 11 points, but found an up-tempo rhythm in the second half.  Shaw, the league's leader in shooting percentage, sank only 39 percent of their shots, but roared back in the final period, hitting 53 percent.  They finished the night 30-of-65 (46 percent).  In contrast, the Bulldogs hit over 40 percent each half, finishing the game 25-of-60 42 percent.

In the first half, the Bulldogs had the advantage early.  In less than four minutes, Bowie State built a 16-5 lead over the Bears with senior Travis Hyman scoring 11 of the BSU points.   

With 10:39 left in the first, junior transfer Dameatric Scott hit a three pointer that gave Bowie State the 23-12 lead.  Shaw then made their first real offensive run of the night.  Devon Mclendon hit four straight points to spark what would become an eight-point run that cut the Bulldog lead to three, 23-20, with 8:12 left.

Bowie spent the next three minutes rebuilding their lead and with 3:49 left, senior Jay Gavin hit a jumper to extend the Bulldogs lead to nine.

As the half closed, though, Shaw fought back.  With 1:12 left, Curtis Hines took a pass from Malik Alvin on the fastbreak and sank the layup to pull the Bears within two.  BSU closed out the half with a layup by junior Bryan Wilson to take a 33-29 lead into the half.

The Bears opened the second with a 10-2 run, turning the four-point deficit into a four-point lead in two and a half minutes.  When Karron Johnson set the crowd on fire with a thundering dunk, Shaw took a 39-35 lead. 

Junior Byron Westmoreland hit a layup to end the Bear scoring run and cut the Shaw lead to two, but the Bulldogs would not get as close the rest of the game.

With 4:22 left in the game, senior Darren Clark hit a pair of free throws for the Bulldogs, trimming the Shaw lead to 62-59.  In the next minute, the Bears would score seven straight - including a three from Alvin, who had 19 points in the second half alone.  With Alvin's three, the Bears took a 69-59 lead.

Shaw (11-2 / 3-0 CIAA) was led by Alvin's game-high 21 points and added six assists.  Mclendon came up one rebound short of a double-double, tallying 20 points and a game-high nine rebounds.

Westmoreland finished the night with 20 points for the Bulldogs, while Hyman tossed in 18 and Scott had ten.  Hyman, Clark, and Westmoreland had six rebounds apiece to pace Bowie State.  Clark led BSU with seven assists. 

When Brooks was asked if Bowie State was too focused on the nationally rankings, he quickly responded, “The rankings have not been our focus all year … We're a work in progress, but still a very good team!”

Bowie State will look to snap their two-game skid on Saturday (January 14th) at Saint Augustine's College.  The Falcons and Bulldogs will tip at 7:30 pm.