PETERSBURG, Va. — Bowie State (1-0) erased an 11-point second-half deficit and defeated East Stroudsburg (0-1) 70-66 on Friday at the Multipurpose Center. The Bulldogs finished with 44 points in the paint and 17 fast-break points.
Justin Morrisey scored BSU's first two baskets to create a 4-0 lead. East Stroudsburg moved in front 5-4 before Charles Thomas, III hit a 3-pointer at 16:29 and added two more baskets to put the Bulldogs ahead 11-5. East Stroudsburg answered with a run that included a Kevin Coleman layup, a Davon Lee 3-pointer and a Jalen Pichardo tip-in to lead 14-11, and the visitors later pushed the score to 17-13 on a Carson Howard tip-in. The Bulldogs responded with 10 straight points, getting a Trent Floystad jumper, a Jailin Landis layup, a Jaiden McGhee basket and free throw, and a Morrisey basket and free throw to move ahead 23-17. ESU cut the margin to 25-24, but McGhee scored five points during a late push and Silas Devonish-Prince added a layup with nine seconds left to send the Bulldogs into halftime ahead 33-28.
Bowie State, in the second half, stretched its lead to 41-30 on Landis' layup, but East Stroudsburg worked back and moved ahead 49-46 on Carson Howard's free throw at 12:46. East Stroudsburg later built the margin to 61-50 before the Bulldogs answered with an 11-0 run, getting a Landis tip-in and free throw, a Thomas, III dunk, a Floystad basket and free throw, and Morrisey's 3-pointer to tie it at 61 with 3:59 left. Anticipation was built after Saleem Payne put ESU back in front with a layup, Thomas tied the game at 63 before Payne hit a 3-pointer for a 66-63 lead, and Landis made two free throws to bring BSU within 66-65. Jordan Downs hit a 3-pointer with 44 seconds left to put the Bulldogs ahead 68-66, and Morrisey added two free throws with two seconds left after his defensive rebound as BSU closed out a 70-66 win.
Thomas, III scored 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting, collected seven rebounds and blocked two shots. Morrisey finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists. McGhee added 12 points and four rebounds. Floystad posted seven points, seven rebounds and two steals.
Head coach Bryan Wilson secured his first career victory leading the Bulldogs, an important milestone in the early stages of his tenure. The win signifies another step forward for Wilson and his coaching staff as they continue to shape the program, strengthen its foundation, and build momentum within Bowie State Athletics.
The Bulldogs return to the VSU Multipurpose Center Saturday to face Shepherd University, at 4 p.m. to conclude the opening weekend.
For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 14 varsity sport teams, please visit BSUBulldogs.com and follow the Bulldogs on social media.
