BOWIE, Md. – Bowie State University men's basketball started flat but finished on high note, topping the Falcons of Saint Augustine's University 78-62 on Thursday evening and improved to 9-5 overall and 2-1 in the CIAA. The loss dips the Falcons record to 5-8 overall and 0-3 in league play.
 
"I thought we came out a little flat in first half and felt we didn't defend like we're capable of doing, but our guys did a good job after halftime by coming out with some intensity and our press really bothered them" said Bowie State head coach Darrell Brooks.
 
Senior Justin Beck (Ellicott City, Md.) is playing like a leading candidate for conference player of the year, scoring a game-high 25 points to go along with eight rebounds and five steals. Redshirt senior Miles Jackson (Silver Spring, Md.) contributed 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field and sophomore Ahmaad Wilson (Baltimore, Md.) recorded 10 points to complete Bowie State's double figure scorers in the win.
 
Saint Augustine's was led by Quincy January (Atlanta, Ga.) with team-highs of 14 points and nine rebounds. Keith Crawford (Richmond, Va.) and Julius Murphy (Goldsboro, N.C.) were responsible for 11 and 10 points respectively.
 
The first 20 minutes featured three ties, three lead changes and some very low shooting percentages. Saint Augustine's shot 8-of-25 (32 percent) from the field in the first half, which included 1-of-10 beyond the arc and 7-of-11 free throws (63.6 percent). Bowie State's field goal shooting percentage was tad lower than their opponent with the Bulldogs going 8-of-27 from the field (29.6 percent), 2-of-11 (18.2 percent) behind the 3-point line and stuck 8-of-9 free throws (88.9 percent).
 
Saint Augustine's Falcons led by as much a seven at the 8:35 mark in the first half (19-12) only to see Bowie State go on a 10-0 run to switch the advantage over to the Bulldogs for good. The Bulldogs took a 26-24 lead into halftime and were never really challenged after that.
 
The Falcons was able to create the games' seventh tie of the night on a January layup, knotting the score at 40-all at the 13:34 mark of the second half.
 
However, the Bulldogs went on a 16-6 run over the next four minutes to open a double-digit lead at 56-46 and cruised the rest of the way.
 
The Bulldogs will play its second of three straight home contest on Saturday (January 9th) welcoming the Shaw Bears to the A.C. Jordan Arena for a 4 p.m. tip time.