BOWIE, Md. – Bowie State University men's basketball overcame a late, nine-point second half deficit and rallied to top Saint Augustine's University 87-82 in overtime on Thursday evening. The Bulldogs win, snapped a four-game Bowie State (6-8 overall / 1-2 CIAA) slide and ended the Falcons four-game win streak.
 
The contest was tight from the beginning as the lead changed hands 19 times and the score was tied 14 times. The Bulldogs opened an early eight-point lead in the first half, but the Falcons surged ahead 26-25 by the 8:30 mark and carried a 37-34 lead into halftime.
 
The Falcons led 41-34 after scoring their first two baskets in the second half, but the Bulldogs scored the next eight points to move in front 42-41 after a jumper in the paint by senior Ahmaad Wilson (Baltimore, Md.). After the Falcons re-took the lead 47-44, neither team would lead by more than two points until Tyre Gathright (Wilmington, N.C.) buried a three-pointer for a 66-62 Falcons' lead with 2:55 remaining. The margin reached six points at 69-63 on January's basket before the Bulldogs rallied.
 
The Saint Augustine's Falcons struggled at the free throw line, making 16-of-33 attempts for 48.5 percent. They led 69-63 with 1:33 left in regulation but made only 3-of-8 free throws down the stretch. The Bulldogs, who made 31-of-37 free throw attempts for 83.8 percent, with sophomore Cameron Knox (Upper Marlboro, Md.) drainig two free throws with 0.5 seconds remaining to send the contest into overtime. This was the second consecutive overtime game between the two teams.
 
In overtime, the Falcons (3-1 CIAA, 6-9 overall) were outscored 13-8 as they shot 40 percent from the floor. The Bulldogs shot 38.5 percent for the game but made 50 percent of their shots in the extra session to gain their first conference win of the season.
 
Wilson (Baltimore, Md.) paced the Bulldogs with 22 points and redshirt sophomore David Belle (Hyattsville, Md.) added a career-high 20 points. Hayes scored 14 points and sophomore Saiquan Jamison (Upper Marlboro, Md.) led a strong effort on the boards with 15 points and career-best 20 rebounds. The Bulldogs outrebounded the Falcons 20-8 on the offensive glass for a 28-6 advantage in second chance points.
 
Gathright scored 20 points to lead four double-figure scorers for Saint Augustine's University. Kasey Bryant (Raleigh, N.C.) added 16 points, Quincy January (Atlanta, Ga.) scored 14 points and Rashad George (Raleigh, N.C.) registered 10 points for the Falcons, who shot a season-high 56.9 percent from the floor including 53.3 percent from three-point range (8 of 15).
 
January added seven rebounds and Gathright corralled five rebounds for the Falcons. Quinton Morrow (Burlington, N.C.) chipped in nine points and Kenneth Collins (Clayton, N.C.) contributed six points.
 
Bulldogs men's basketball returns to action on Saturday (January 6th) hosting the Shaw University Bears at 4 p.m.