PETERSBURG, VA — The Bowie State men's basketball team (5-15, 3-5 CIAA, 0-2 North) fell on the road, 77–64, to Virginia State (11-9, 4-4 CIAA, 1-1 North) on Wednesday night in CIAA action at the VSU Multipurpose Center.
The Bulldogs recorded 20 fast-break points and scored 38 points in the paint, but a rebounding advantage and strong bench production by the Trojans proved costly.
Bowie State set the tone early as Nazaire Hinton opened the scoring with a tip-in just 33 seconds into the contest. The teams traded baskets through the opening minutes before Virginia State gained a slight edge. Guy Fauntleroy knocked down a three-pointer at the 5:22 mark, and Joseph Allen added a dunk at 6:01 to keep the Bulldogs within striking distance. Despite the effort, the Trojans carried a 39–32 lead into halftime.
VSU maintained its advantage coming out of the break, opening the second half with a jumper and a three-pointer to stretch the margin. Bowie State responded behind Charles Thomas, III, who converted a fast-break layup at 16:55 and later drained a three-pointer at 13:16 to trim the deficit to 54–46.
BSU mounted a late rally and briefly tied the game at 56, but Virginia State answered with timely baskets and free throws over the final three minutes to pull away. The Trojans closed out the contest at the line and on the boards to seal the 77–64 victory.
Bowie State Top Performers
Charles Thomas, III
• 12 points
• Two blocks
• Three rebounds
Joseph Allen
• 11 points
• 5-for-8 field goals
• Four rebounds
Jaiden McGhee
• 10 points
• Two steals
• Five rebounds
KJ West
• 9 points
• Five assists
• Nine rebounds
Up Next
Bowie State returns to action in CIAA play, traveling to face Virginia Union University on Saturday, Jan. 24, with tip-off scheduled for 2 p.m. in Richmond, Va.
For the latest information on Bowie State Athletics and its 14 varsity sports, visit bsubulldogs.com.
