Box Score (WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.) A pair of free throws by Justin Glover with 0.3 seconds remaining lifts Winston-Salem State University to a 70-69 victory over #15 Bowie State University. The loss snaps a six-game winning streak and puts the Bulldogs record at 9-2 overall (1-1 CIAA). Winston-Salem State improves to 10-2 overall and 3-0 in the CIAA.
Winston-Salem State forced the tempo early using solid defense was able to jump out quick on a much taller Bowie State team, forcing Bulldogs' turnovers and allowed the Rams to push out to an early nine point advantage, 21-12. Eventually the lead would grow to 11 at 32 to 21 with 5:49 remaining in the first half.
The Rams would go cold, and the hot shooting Bulldogs put WSSU back on their heels, and Bowie State would end the half on 20-5 run to take a 41-37 lead into the locker room at the half.
The second half was nip and tuck throughout most of the period, before WSSU would make the first move and force its way into a six point lead on a WyKevin Bazemore layup with 12:26 remaining.
But once again the hot shooting Bulldogs would hang around and eventually go back on top by eight points, 63-55 with 5:47 to go, and looked to put the WSSU Rams away.
Bazemore would put the Rams on his back once again, scoring six points down the stretch and getting huge baskets from NeQuan Melvin and Wakefield Ellison in the waning minutes.
Bowie State held a 67-63 lead in the final two minutes, but a Joseph Thompson put back with 1:49 left, pulled Winston-Salem State within one point, at 67-66.
After a layup by BSU junior
Dameatric Scott, WSSU's Bazemore would answer with one of his own with 43 seconds remaining, setting the stage for the last second heroics for the Rams.
The Rams forced Bulldogs senior
Darren Clark into a turnover with eight second left. Justin Glover would clear the floor and take the ball strong to the basket and getting fouled with 0.3 second left in the game and WSSU down one, 69-68.
Glover hit the first free throw to tie the game, before Bowie State would try to freeze him and called a timeout.
After the timeout, Glover stepped to the line and hit nothing but net on the second attempt sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Bazemore paced the Rams with 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field and Glover ended the thriller with 16 points, which included 8-of-8 from the free throw line.
Winston-Salem State forced 19 Bowie State turnovers resulting in 19 points and the Rams held a 41-38 rebound advantage over the Bulldogs. The Rams' bench outscored the Bulldogs reserves 25-4 and dominated on second chance opportunities (23-6).
Junior Byron Westmorland torched the twine for a game-high 24 points (18 in the first half) and tied for team-high rebound honors (six) with Scott for Bowie State. Senior
Jay Gavin scored 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting and Clark added a dozen points in the setback.
The Bulldogs shot a season-best 53 percent beyond the arc (9-of-17) but the 69 points were a season-low for Bowie State. Another unfortunate season-low for Bowie State came at the free throw line with the Bulldogs hitting 16-of-29 (55 percent).