ORANGEBURG, S.C. - Bowie State University's five-game winning streak came to an end Saturday night, as Claflin University defeated the Bulldogs 66-60 in a conference matchup. The loss dropped Bowie State to 10-7 on the season and 2-3 in CIAA play.
 
In the opening minutes of the first period, the score was pretty even as both teams gave the opposing defense buckets. Things didn't open up until the 14-minute-mark, with the Panthers holding a 10-9 lead when Devin Smith and Letrell knocked down back to back bombs from long-distance.
 
Moments later, Haneef Britt converted on a thunderous dunk, forcing Bowie State to call a 30-second timeout to regain some momentum. The Bulldogs would respond as Ronald Perry hit a jumper following the timeout, but Claflin would counter with another basket. This would be the story for the remainder of the period, as the Panthers held a 37-31 lead into halftime.
 
In the second period, it appeared to be the same situation for Bowie State. Saiquan Jamison would convert on a tip-in, but Malik Abdur-Rahim would answer right back for Claflin. It was difficult for the Bulldogs to pick up momentum in this game. However, with 7-minutes later in the match, Bowie State was still in a position to steal the victory.
 
After Kani Coles scored, Dexter Turner knocked down both of his free-throws to make it a three-point game 55-52. Then Coles would score again to cut the lead down to one. Britt would respond to stretch the Panthers lead, but moments later, Turner knocked down a 3-pointer to tie the game at 57 apiece. After that, the teams would exchange baskets back and forth.
 
With a minute to play in regulation as Claflin held a one-point lead, the Panthers would throw another job at the Bulldogs with a 3-pointer by Donnell Frayer Jr. As Bowie State failed to respond, the Panthers finished the game off with a dunk by Brandon Davis.
 
Coles led the two Bulldogs in double-figure with a career-high 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field, and Saiquan Jamison added 11 points and a game-high nine rebounds.  As a team, Bowie State 42 percent (19-of-45) from the field, 30 percent (3-of-10) from long range and made 63 percent (19-of-30) of its free throws.
 
On Monday (1/13), Bowie State will close out their three-game road swing with a 7:30 matchup at Fayetteville State University.