Box Score (ELIZABETH CITY, N.C.)  It only took the 21st ranked Bulldogs about eight minutes to show why they're one of the best teams in the country as Bowie State routs Elizabeth City State 89-64.  The victory was BSU's fifth in a row and improves the Bowie State record to 14-3 overall, 6-2 CIAA and 2-0 North.

The first 5:21 of the first half featured two ties and six lead changes.  However, a tip-in by Bowie State senior Ali Djim broke an 11-11 tie which started a 12-0 Bulldogs run.

Elizabeth City State's Quintin Spady cut the Vikings deficit to eight (27-19) with just under 10 minutes remaining in the first half.  Unfortunately for ECSU, that's as close as they would get for the rest of the game.

The Bowie State lead ballooned to a first period high 20 and sent the Bulldogs into halftime with a very comfortable 50-32 advantage.  The Bulldogs shot 52 percent from the floor in the first period, connecting on 17-of-33 field goals, which included 8-of-14 beyond the 3-point line.  Of those eight first half triples, junior Byron Westmorland was responsible for half of them.

Bowie State's defense stymied Elizabeth City State all night, holding the Vikings to 32 percent shooting in the first half and 37 percent in the second half.

The Bulldogs began the second half with a 6-0 before a layup the Elizabeth City State's Omar Jones stopped the run.  Bowie State's stronghold grew to a game-high 29 points (67-39) after a short jumper from the free throw line by junior Branden Doughty with 13:52 left in the game.  From there, BSU head coach Darrell Brooks substituted freely.

“Tonight we just shot the ball well and I was pleased with our effort defensively and continued to rebound well”, said Brooks following the game.  “It's always tough playing in here (R.L. Vaughan Center) and this was great divisional victory for us.”

Bowie State matched its first half, 52 percent field goal shooting in the second half, hitting 15-of-29.  The Bulldogs made 13-of-26 of its 3-point field goals.

Westmorland led all scorers with a game-high 21 points and senior Darren Clark along with junior Bryan Wilson added 16 and 13 points respectively for the Bulldogs.  Clark snatched a game-high nine rebounds and handed out a game-high nine assists from his point guard position.

Elizabeth City State (9-9, 3-5 CIAA, 1-1 North) was led by Marquie Cooke's 16 points and eight rebounds.  Spady, Angelo Sharpless and Jones also scored in double figures for the Vikings, adding 13, 11 and 10 points respectively.

Bowie State will take Tuesday off and begin preparation for Saturday's (1/28) road rematch with the Lincoln University of Pennsylvania.  The Lions and Bulldogs will tip-off at 7:30 pm from LUPA's Manuel Rivera Hall.