WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The last time Bowie State and Winston-Salem State University battled on the basketball court the Bulldogs prevailed over the Rams in a tight double-overtime matchup. However, today as the two teams faced off, the Rams got revenge with an easy 88-65 victory over the Bulldogs.
 
This loss drops the Bulldogs' record to 2-3 overall (0-1 CIAA) while the Rams improve to 3-2 for the season (0-1 CIAA). In defeat, senior David Belle (Hyattsville, Md.) scored a personal season-best 19 points, while freshman Khalil Williams (Annapolis, Md.) accounted for 12 points off the bench and senior Cameron Haynes (Upper Marlboro, Md.) added 11 points.
 
The contest was close in the early going until Winston-Salem State used a 14-3 run over four-minute span to open a double-digit lead at 28-17 with 8:08 left in the first half. From there the home teams lead grew to 51-33 by intermission. Winston-Salem State shot a blistering 64 percent in the first 20 minutes (117-of-25), which included 4-of-7 behind the 3-point line and the Rams made 15-of-18 first half free throws.
 
As for Bowie State, the Bulldogs made 10-of-30 from the field in the first half of play with 6-of-16 coming beyond the arc. Bowie State's field goal in the second half was just about the same as the first half, making just 10-of-29.
 
Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, the Rams' hot hand got even hotter over the final 20 minutes of action as Winston-Salem State knocked down 11-of-16 shots (69 percent) and continued parading to the charity stripe, making 13-of-19 over the half of competition.
 
The Bulldogs grabbed 23 total rebounds, tying the teams' season low. As far as shooting goes, Bowie State shot a season-low 34 percent from the field (20-of-59), 41 percent from long distance (9-of-22) and knocked down 65 percent of their free-throws (16-of-25).
 
As a team, the Rams shot 66 percent from the field (27-of-41), converted on 55 percent of their three-pointers (6-of-11) and made 76 percent of its free-throws (28-of-37).
 
The Winston-Salem State duo Robert Colon and Johnathon Hicklin recorded 36 points combined on 12-of-20 shooting from the field, while Julius Barnes chipped in nine points while Mason Harrell and Xavier Fennell accounted for eight points each. The team also out-rebounded Bowie State with 38 total rebounds.
 
The Rams held advantages in point in the paint (42-22), points off turnovers (19-15), second chance points (14-12), fast break points (12-2) and bench points (46-35).
 
On Monday (November 25), the Bulldogs will travel to Livingstone College (Salisbury, N.C.) looking for its first conference win of the season.