SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - Bowie State University men's basketball opened the 2019-2020 season with an 86-84 victory over California University of Pennsylvania in the Clarion Hotel Conference Challenge hosted by Shepherd University.
 
Senior Juwan Smith (Lexington Park, Md.) led four Bowie State players in double figures with 25 points. Bulldogs' seniors Cameron Hayes (Upper Marlboro, Md.) and David Belle (Hyattsville, Md.) chipped in 17 and 15 points respectively while junior Justin Route (Washington, D.C.) tied his career-high with 11 points in the win. Route led the Bulldogs on the glass with five rebounds.
 
Senior Saiquan Jamison (Upper Marlboro, Md.) and junior Kani Coles (Baltimore, Md.) scored eight points apiece and senior Yohance Fleming (Bowie, Md.) rounded out Bowie State's scorers with two.
 
As a team, Bowie State (1-0) shot 53.4 percent from the field on the night (31-of-58), which included 6-of-14 (42.9 percent) beyond the 3-point line but managed just 18-of-27 (66.7 percent) at the free throw line. The Bulldogs held advantages in points in the paint (34-24), points off turnovers (21-18), second chance points (14-12) and bench points (44-17). Bowie State also outrebounded its opponent 38-30. The game featured nine ties and 10 lead changes.
 
Brent Pegram led California (Pa.) (0-1) with 24 points while teammates Phillip Alexander and Babatunde Ajike added 19 and 10 points respectively. The Cal (Pa.) Vulcans finished the game with a field goal shooting percentage of 45.5 percent (30-of-66) that included 14-of-33 beyond the arc. The Vulcans were 10-of-14 (71.4 percent) at the charity stripe.
 
The Bulldogs return to the hardwood on Saturday (11/9) and will face host Shepherd University in the 6 p.m. nightcap.