RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Union University stuns #3 Bowie State, beating the Bulldogs by a score of 83-76 on Wednesday night inside Barco-Stevens Hall. The loss snaps a two-game Bowie State win streak and sets the Bulldogs overall record at 18-7, 11-2 in the conference and 5-2 in the division. Bowie State came into the game ranked third in the D2SIDA Atlantic Region Media Poll.
“We got exactly what we deserved because we did not defend the way we’re capable of and they way we need to defend on the road”, said an upset Bowie State head coach Darrell Brooks. It was too easy for their guards to score or get fouled … They took 35 free throws with their starting three perimeter guys taking 31 of those attempts!”
Virginia Union (8-16, 4-9 CIAA, 3-4 North) jumped out to a 5-0 advantage before back-to-back field goals by senior Cameron Knox (Baltimore, Md.) and a jumper and junior Julian Livingston (Bowie, Md.) gave the Bulldogs their first lead at 7-6.
Bowie State went on an 8-2 run to extend the visitor’s lead to 15-8 at the 14:55 mark. The Bulldogs held the lead until a pair of free throws by Virginia Union’s Avery Jirmnson knotted the score at 22-all with 6:19 left in the first half.
The tables were turned at halftime from the last time the Panthers and Bulldogs met as Virginia Union took a 35-30 lead into the break. VUU made 12-of-36 (33.3 percent) first period field goals compared to 11-of-32 (34.4 percent) field goals for Bowie State.
The Panthers began the second half just like the first, scoring back-to-back field goals for a 39-30 advantage and remained in front by a score of 50-43 at the under 15 minute media timeout. Virginia Union’s lead ballooned 55-44 before a triple by Bowie State junior Miles Jackson (Silver Spring, Md.) cut the deficit down to single digits.
Bowie State uses an 8-0 run to trim the Virginia Union lead down to 55-52 at the 9:24 mark. Freshman Ahmaad Wilson (Baltimore, Md.) pulled the Bulldogs within one at 58-57.
Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Virginia Union responded to the threat with a 9-0 burst to give the Panthers a 67-55 cushion and never looked back.
Knox and Livingston paced Bowie State with 22 and 16 points respectively and senior Zafir Williams (Philadelphia, Pa.) chipped in 10 points.
Four of five Virginia Union players scored in double figures with D’Andre Bullard leading the pack with a team-high 20 points. Jirmnson fell just shy of a triple double, adding 17 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds while Ray Anderson was responsible for 16 points. Colton Lewis also recorded a double-double tallying 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday (February 14th), hosting the Hawks of Chowan University in a 4 pm divisional tilt in BSU’s A.C. Jordan Arena. This home finale has been designated as Cancer Awareness Day and Senior Day.
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