PETERSBURG, Va. – Bowie State University made late second half free throws when needed and held on down the stretch to defeat Virginia State University 74-69. The crucial victory puts the Bulldogs in third in the CIAA north with a record of 4-5 (7-8 CIAA).
The visiting Bulldogs were paced by senior Byron Westmorland (Baltimore, Md.) with a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds. Fellow senior Bryan Wilson (Upper Marlboro, Md.) added a career-high 16 points to go along with a team-tying four assists.
Westmorland came out of the gate of fire, scoring 10 of the Bulldogs first 17 points. The Bowie State defense held the Trojans to 5-of-14 shooting (36 percent) in the first eight minutes of action, while knocking down 6-of-9 (67 percent) from the floor.
Both teams were pretty even over the first 20 minutes. Virginia State shot 48 percent (14-of-29) from the field and Bowie State shot 47 percent (14-of-30). Each team knocked down five, first half 3-pointers. The first half featured three ties and four lead changes.
Virginia State (12-13, 6-9 CIAA, 4-5 North) jumped out to a 5-0 lead to start the game before a Westmorland triple put the first points on the board for the Bulldogs. The Trojans led by a first half high of five (13-8) until a deep corner 3-pointer by freshman Justin Beck (Baltimore, Md.) shifted the advantage over to the Bulldogs at 14-13 at the 14:58 mark.
The Bulldogs pushed their lead to 25-17 on a fast break layup by senior Dameatric Scott (Hagerstown, Md.), forcing a Virginia State 30 second time out.
Virginia State kept their composure and went into halftime with a slim 37-36 lead. Statistically, the two teams were pretty even in the first 20 minutes of action.
The Bulldogs and Trojans shot 47 percent in the first half and each squad made 5-of-10 behind the arc.
The Trojans held their largest lead of the second half at 44-40 on a Mike Bynum (Norfolk, Va.) triple at the 16:54 mark.
A Westmorland layup a little over three minutes later, capped off a 5-0 Bowie State run that put the Bulldogs in front at 45-40.
Virginia State would regain the lead again at the 12:21 following a DeVonte’ Williams (Hampton, Va.) bucket.
However, BSU took the lead for good with 10:30 remaining in the game after a 3-pointer by junior Julian Williams (Washington, D.C.)
Bowie State made just 16-of-31 free throws in the game and out-rebounded their opponent 40-30.
The Trojans were led by Christopher Grier (Stone Mountain, Ga.) with a game-high 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the floor, which included 4-of-7 behind the 3-point line.
The Bulldogs will close out the regular season will a 4 pm nationally televised divisional clash at Elizabeth City State University on Saturday (February 23rd).
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