BOWIE, MD — The Bowie State men's basketball team (6-20, 4-11 CIAA, 1-7 North) battled down to the final possession but came up short in a 72-69 loss to Virginia Union Saturday night inside A.C. Jordan Arena.

The Bulldogs pushed the tempo throughout the contest, finishing with 23 fast-break points and adding 27 points off the bench in a game that featured several momentum swings.

Bowie State fell behind early after the Panthers opened on an 8-0 run, but the Bulldogs responded midway through the first half. KJ West converted a fast-break layup at the 17:50 mark to get BSU on the board and spark a steady rally. The Bulldogs chipped away at the deficit and kept the contest within reach before VUU closed the half with a transition bucket to take a 37-32 lead into the break.

The Bulldogs wasted no time in the second half as Joseph Allen knocked down a 3-pointer off an assist from West to tie the game at 37-37. From there, both teams traded baskets in a tightly contested stretch. Jaiden McGhee sank two free throws with 6:53 remaining to trim the deficit to one, setting up a dramatic finish.

Virginia Union capitalized at the free-throw line in the closing seconds to extend its lead. Guy Fauntleroy buried a late three-pointer to keep Bowie State within striking distance, but the Panthers held on to secure the 72-69 decision.

Bowie State Top Performers
Guy Fauntleroy
• 19 points
• 5-of-10 from three-point range
• 2 steals

Joseph Allen
• 18 points
• 8-of-14 from the field
• 2 blocks

Jailin Landis
• 8 points
• 8 assists
• 4 rebounds

KJ West
• 6 points
• 5 assists
• 8 rebounds

Up Next
The Bulldogs return to action Wednesday, Feb. 18, hosting Virginia State for Greek/Retro Night with a 7:30 p.m., tip-off inside A.C. Jordan Arena.

For the latest information on Bowie State Athletics and its 14 varsity sports, visit bsubulldogs.com.