CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The Bowie State University men's basketball program on its 2018-2019 season on Friday evening at the University of Charleston in the opening game of the PSAC/MEC Conference Challenge with the visiting Bulldogs falling short to the host Golden Eagles by a score of 89-75.
 
Sophomore Keith Duffin paced four Bowie State's Bulldogs in scoring with a career-high 22 points. Redshirt junior David Belle fell just short of a double-double, scoring 14 points and tied for game-high rebound honors with eight. Junior Cameron Hayes came off the Bowie State bench to record 15 points while junior Saiquan Jamison chipped in 10 points to go along with six rebounds.
 
"We weren't very good on defense tonight", said Bowie State Head Coach Darrell Brooks following the game. "It's only our first game of the season, but we are clear about the number one thing needed to get back to what we do best … Rebound!"
 
As a team, Bowie State (0-1) cut down on the turnover bug that haunted the Bulldogs in the teams only exhibition two weeks ago, committing a half dozen against Charleston compared to 23 miscues against Providence. The Bulldogs' bench outscored the Golden Eagles 37-23 but the home team edged Bowie State 25-24 on the glass.
 
The Golden Eagles started off strong in the first half of play, leading the Bulldogs for the full 20 minutes of play. Charleston's Devon Robinson led the Golden Eagles in the first half, totaling 19 points. The Golden Eagles were 17-of-30 on their field goals, 5-of-9 beyond the three-point line, and 10-of-14 from the free throw line in the first half of the game. The Golden Eagles worked to push past Bowie heading into the half, leading the Bulldogs 49-37.
 
The second half of play was a similar story for Charleston as they used their momentum to overtake visiting Bowie State. Charleston improved on their field goals from the first half, going 15-of-23 in the second half.
 
The visiting Bulldogs shot 53.1 percent (26-of-49 from the field overall. Bowie State knocked down 13-of-25 (52.0 percent) over the first half of play and 13-of-24 (54.2 percent) from the field in the final 20 minutes. The Bulldogs converted 20-of-26 from the charity stripe (76.9 percent) overall but just 3-of-12 (25 percent) behind the arc.
 
Robinson flirted with a double-double, leading Charleston with 29 points and eight rebounds. Drew Rackley scored 17 points while Adam Traore and Jeramie Burge contributed 10 points each for the Golden Eagles.
 
The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday (11/10) afternoon at 2 p.m. against the Glenville State College.