BOX SCORE
(ETTRICK, Va.) Bowie State University led pretty much the entire game, leading by as much a 16 points at one point, and recorded a 70-61 road win against Virginia State University. Bowie State Senior
Duke Crews (Hampton, VA, Bethel, Univ. of Tennessee) recorded a double-double (23 points and 10 rebounds) to lead both teams and junior
Eric Vann (Clinton, MD, Gwynn Park, Prince George's C.C.) added 16 points.
Bowie State jumped out to a 4-0 advantage early in the first period, but Virginia State took its first lead at 5-4 at the 17:39 mark. BSU’s Bulldogs regained the advantage on the very next possession, only to see VSU’s Trojans regain the advantage at 13-10 with 13:01 remaining in the opening period.
Crews hammered down a vicious dunk a little over a minute later, giving Bowie State’s Bulldogs all the momentum they would need. The Bowie State lead grew to a first half high of 12 points (37-25) and took a 39-28 lead into halftime.
The Bowie State lead expanded to a game-high 16 points (50-34) by the 15:25 mark of the final period, capping off an 11-4 run. Virginia State went on a run of their own (17-3), trimming the deficit to 55-51 with 11:40 left to play. However, that’s as close as VSU’s Trojans would get.
Bowie State’s defense held Virginia State shooting to 38 percent on the night (22-of-58), which included five-of 19 behind the arc. Bowie State countered with a 51 percent field goal shooting percentage for the game (30-of-59), but had a tough time at the free throw line making only six-of-17 freebies.
Virginia State (3-16, 2-12 CIAA, 0-2 East) placed four players in double-figures with Trey Mines leading the way with 13 points. In addition to Mines, Brandon Plummer and Clifton Springfield-Cobb scored 12 points apiece and Brandon Macklin added 11 points. Macklin also led VSU with seven rebounds.
Bowie State’s Bulldogs (12-7, 10-5 CIAA, 2-1 East) travel to Virginia Union University – Saturday (February 6) to tangle with the Panthers at 7:30 p.m. in VUU’s Barco-Stevens Hall is 7:30 p.m., weather permitting.