Box Score (MURFREESBORO, N.C.)  The size of #1 Bowie State University proved too much for Chowan University, as the Bulldogs defeated the Hawks 81-71 in the CIAA divisional opener for both teams.  Bowie State improves to 13-3 overall (5-2 CIAA, 1-0 North) while Chowan falls to 6-13 overall (0-7 CIAA, 0-1 North).

“Any time you can win a game on the road in this league, it's a steal”, said Bowie State head coach Darrell Brooks. 

A 13-2 run midway through the first half gave Bowie State a 22-12 lead, but Chowan answered with a 10-3 run of their own to cut the deficit to three with 5:47 remaining in the half.  Chowan's Quinton McDuffie drained a jumper at the 3:29 mark to keep the scoring gap at three.  That basket, however, would be the last for the Hawks over the next 9:05; a drought that extended deep into the second half.

After taking a 35-31 lead into halftime, the Bulldogs opened a 41-31 lead, five minutes into the second period.  Not until the 14:24 mark, when Kyree Bethel connected on a three, did Chowan get on the scoreboard.

The Bulldogs extended its lead to 15 with 10:16 to play, before Chowan cut it down to eight at 62-54.  Chowan could not maintain that momentum and Bowie State slowed pulled away late in the game.  Bowie State's largest lead of the afternoon (19 points) came with 3:32 remaining and all the Bulldog starters on the bench.

Bethel scored a game-high 27 points on 8-13 shooting behind the arc and 3-4 from the free throw line.  McDuffie rounded out Chowan's double figure scorers with 19 points.

“I'm really pleased how we're defending and now we're starting to rebound the basketball, and if we continue to do those two things well, we become a tougher team to beat”, said Brooks.

Chowan committed just 11 turnovers compared to 18 for Bowie State.  The Hawks were held to 41 percent shooting from the field (24-59), which included 12-27 (44 percent) behind the arc. 

The Bulldogs shot 28-58 from the floor and 23-of-34 from the free throw line.  Bowie State ruled the backboards, outrebounding Chowan 51-31.

Senior Darren Clark scored a team-high 15 points to go along with seven rebounds and two assists.  Senior Travis Hyman and juniors Bryon Westmorland and Najee White chipped in a dozen points each.  Hyman led both teams in rebounds with 11.

Bowie State returns to action on Monday (January 23rd), taking on the Vikings of Elizabeth City State at 7:30 pm in ECSU's R.L. Vaughan Center.