FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - Bowie State University dropped a non-conference contest on Monday night, as the Fayetteville State University Broncos defeated the Bulldogs 70-58. The loss dropped the Bowie State record to 10-8 overall while the Broncos improve to 15-3 on the year.
 
Similar to the Bulldogs' previous game against Claflin University on Saturday, both teams kept the score reasonably even throughout the first half. The most significant lead of the period didn't come until the 2:30 mark when FSU's Jalen Seegars knocked down a 3-pointer to extend Fayetteville State's lead to 12.
 
Bowie State did not regain the lead the entire half, after holding it briefly near the beginning of the game. However, heading into halftime, the Bulldogs held the advantage in points in the paint (16-14) and second-chance points (7-4). Still, the Broncos held 38-29 lead at the break, as they were shooting 54 percent (15-of-28).
 
Coming out of halftime, the Broncos continued to extend the lead off their first-half momentum. Ty McClain scored on a layup, and Seegars connected on another shot from long distance. As Bowie State struggled to respond with a bucket on their own, the Broncos were looking at a 15-point lead after Mark Burton knocked down a jumper at the 17-minute mark.
 
Around the ten-minute mark, it was the same story. Seegars hit another 3-pointer, and then Will Brown converted on a slam dunk. Although the lead was as high as 17 at the time, the Bulldogs continued to fight, as Bowie State senior Rinardo Perry (Washington, D.C) converted on back-to-back layups. But again, the Broncos would respond with Darian Dixon hitting a jump shot.
 
Throughout the final five-minutes, the Broncos put the game away as Bowie State continued to find ways to stop them on defense. For the Bulldogs, senior Juwan Smith (Lexington Park, Md.) led the double-figure scoring attack with 15 points while fellow senior Yohance Fleming (Bowie, Md.) chipped in a personal season-best 13 points. Junior Justin Route (Washington, D.C.) and senior Saiquan Jamison (Upper Marlboro, Md.) both added eight points each in the setback.
 
As a team, Bowie State shot 37 percent (23-of-62) from the field, 23 percent (3-of-13) from long range and made 69 percent (9-of-13) of its free throws. Fayetteville State shot 50 percent (27-of-54) from the field, 47 percent (8-of-17) from deep, and 44 percent (8-of-18) on free throw attempts.
 
Bowie State returns on to host Shaw University in a conference matchup on Saturday (January 18) as part of a doubleheader. The Bulldogs and Bears will tipoff at 3 p.m.