BOWIE, Md. – The Bowie State Bulldogs late rally came up short in a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Northern Division tilt against Virginia State, falling 70-67 Thursday night in A.C. Jordan Arena.

The Bulldogs (6-13) dipped to fourth in the division standings with a 2-2 mark in the division and 4-4 record in league action while VSU (6-9) improves to 3-5 in the CIAA and gets their first division with at 1-2 in the North.

Senior Justin Route (Washington, DC) posted 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting and three rebounds while junior Quinton Drayton (Bowie, MD) finished with 15 points and four rebounds to round out the double figure scoring for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs took an eight-point lead in the first seven minutes of action. Bowie State maintained the lead the entire half despite VSU tying the game at 16-all when Antwan Miles scored on a layup with 5:58 left. Both teams exchanged baskets for the remaining five minutes of the stanza with the Bulldogs holding a 9-8 edge to lead 25-24 at halftime.

In the second half, Bowie State and Virginia State traded baskets until the Trojans stole the lead and stretched it to five on a 13-7 run at the 14:47 mark. Over the next eight minutes, the game would see five ties and two lead changes until the seventh tie featured a jumper from the Trojans that sparked a 4-0 run but Route tied the game at 59-all on a jumper with 3:01 left.

The ensuing possession was highlighted by a 3-pointer from Francis Fitzgerald that led to VSU scoring eight unanswered points and a 67-59 lead with 32 seconds remaining. Bowie State cut the lead to three twice, including a last second layup from Route as time expired.

VSU ended the game shooting 54-percent (28-52) from the floor, 43-percent (6-14) from deep and 57-percent from the free throw line while the Bulldogs tabbed 46-percent (24-52) in field goals, connecting 5-of-16 from the 3-point line and 74-percent (14-19) from the charity stripe.

Bowie State will return to action at home against Elizabeth City State on Saturday, Jan. 29 for a 4 p.m. tip-off inside A.C. Jordan Arena.

For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State University Athletics and its 13 varsity sports teams, please visit www.bsubulldogs.com.