Charlotte, N.C. – The Bowie State University Bulldogs recorded their fifth victory in a row, opening up conference play with an 83-75 win at Johnson C. Smith University on Saturday afternoon.
 
Bowie State's (8-4 / 1-0 CIAA) senior Justin Beck (Ellicott City, Md.) recorded a double-double of 20 points to go with a career-best 14 rebounds to pace the Bulldogs. Sophomore Ahmaad Wilson (Baltimore, Md.) scored 20 points and senior Andre Jackson (Baltimore, Md.) scored 13 points, and added eight rebounds. Senior Miles Jackson (Silver Spring, Md.) contributed 11 rebounds, eight points, two assists and a block.
 
In the first half, JCSU held a five point advantage at the 4:45 mark when Joshua Linson (San Antonio, Tex.) converted a layup that made it 22-17.  Bowie State would cut the lead to 31-29 at the break after Andre Jackson hit a jumper with eight seconds left.

In the second half, Johnson C. Smith surged ahead by nine points at 38-29 when Diondre Pratt (Morven, N.C.) drained a three pointer at the 18:28 mark.  Bowie State would trim the lead to 52-50 after a Beck layup with 10:06 remaining and tied the game at 64-all with 5:06 left after Wilson drained a jumper.

The Bulldogs would then build their lead to as many as five points at 75-70 after two Wilson free throws with 1:59 remaining.  The Golden Bulls would cut the lead to 77-75 after Pratt hit two free throws when 28 seconds left but Bowie State made their free throws down the stretch, with Wilson going 4-of-4 in the final stages.  Andre Jackson provided the final margin after a breakaway dunk made it 83-75.  
 
The Golden Bulls shot 61.5 percent (16-for-26) at the free throw line compared to the Bulldogs' 92.5 percent (23-for-25). Johnson C. Smith shot 41.8 percent from the field (28-of-67) on the afternoon compared to 27-of-67 (40.3 percent) for Bowie State. The Bulldogs outrebounded the Golden Bulls 46-33.
 
"Our guys played with a lot of heart and determination … "Free throws and rebounds were two keys for us today", said Bowie State head coach Darrell Brooks.
 
Johnson C. Smith (7-5 / 2-1) was led by Pratt with a double-double of 19 points to go along with 14 rebounds. Stedmon Lemon (Lithonia, Ga.) recorded 17 points and seven rebounds and Alandre Davis (Florence, S.C.) netted 14 points for the Golden Bulls.
 
The Bulldogs return to action in a little over 24 hours, when they travel to Salisbury, N.C. to tangle with the back-to-back CIAA Champions of Livingstone College. Game time in the New Trent Gymnasium is set for 7:30 p.m.