BOWIE, MD -- Caleb Johnson scored 27 points and Warren Mouganda added 22 points as the Bowie State men's basketball team defeated the Bluefield State Big Blue (12-8, 5-5 CIAA, 2-3 North) 106-103 in a electrifying finish at home Saturday in A.C. Jordan Arena.
Johnson and Mouganda's stellar scoring performances led the Bulldogs (12-10, 4-6 CIAA, 3-2 North) in the contest. Johnson tacked on six rebounds, three assists, and three steals and Mouganda added three steals. Amare Wimbush also helped out with 15 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two blocks.
The Bulldogs shared the ball well in Saturday's game, racking up 23 assists on 41 made field goals. Individually, Elijah Davis dished out the most for the Bulldogs with six assists.
BSU's defense was a problem in Saturday's game, forcing 20 B-State turnovers, those takeaways turned into 27 points on the offensive end of the floor. Johnson's three steals led the way individually for the Bulldogs.
How It Happened
After falling behind 2-0, Bowie State went on a 7-0 run with 18:59 left in the first half, culminating in a three from Mouganda, to take a 7-2 lead. The Bulldogs then added 18 points to that lead by the end of the period and entered halftime with a 60-37 advantage. Bowie State did most of its first half damage in the paint, scoring 32 of its 60 points close to the basket.
The Bulldogs kept its lead intact before going on a 9-0 run, finished off by Davis' three, to grow the lead to 84-72 with 10:44 to go in the contest. Despite the pressure, Bowie State managed to withstand the comeback attempt. They forced 20 turnovers and relied on their depth, with 50 bench points playing a crucial role in securing the victory. The Bulldogs' defense made key stops in the final moments, and clutch free throws sealed the win in front of their home crowd at A.C. Jordan Arena.
Bowie State got a boost from its bench in the period, as non-starters accounted for 23 of its 46 total points.
Game Notes
» The Bulldogs tallied 23 total assists in the game.
» Bowie State had a stellar day defensively, holding Bluefield State to 15 percent from beyond the arc on 13 attempts.
» BSU's bench made an impact by adding 50 points to its scoring output.
» Johnson and Edwards came off the bench to score 27 and 15 points, respectively.
» BSU's defense forced 20 turnovers.
Up Next
Bowie State will get back on the road when they travel down south to face Winston-Salem State on Monday, Feb. 3, at 7:30 p.m. inside of CE Gaines Center for its final cross division tilt. The Bulldogs have a record of 7-8 against the Rams entering that contest after dropping their last meeting, 76-55 on Dec. 14, 2023, against WSSU.
For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 13 varsity sports teams, visit bsubulldogs.com.
