Box Score
SALISBURY, NC – Bowie State's Eric Vann connected on a three-pointer with 5.7 seconds left in the contest Tuesday to help the Bulldogs to a 79-75 victory over the Blue Bears in a CIAA clash.
Livingstone (6-4, 2-2) got off to a slow start against the Bulldogs in the first half. In the first five minutes Bowie State (10-2, 5-0) jumped out to an 11-4 edge. The Blue Bears responded with an 8-0 run to take a one-point edge with 12:50 left in the opening half.
After Bowie State jumped back up by one, Livingstone went on another 8-0 run to take a 20-13 lead with 10:21 left in the first half. The teams battled back and forth for the next four minutes and the Blue Bears continued to lead by two with 6:05 left before another big run gave them a 37-26 lead with 2:53 left. Livingstone held an 11-point edge at halftime.
The Bulldogs came out very strong to start the second half and in the first five minutes had the Blue Bear lead down to one. Livingstone regained a little momentum after the Bowie State run and the teams fought up and down the court. The Bulldogs regained a lead with just over 12 minutes to go, but it didn't phase Livingstone. Livingstone took the lead back with 10:05 to go and the lead traded hands multiple times in the final minutes of the contest.
As the game entered the final minute the Bulldogs were clinging to a one-point edge. With 51 seconds left Greg Henry converted one of two free throws to get the Blue Bears within one. After multiple missed shots by Bowie, Darius Cox came down with a rebound with 27 seconds left. Livingstone came down the court and Henry nailed a jumper with 12 seconds left to give the Blue Bears a 75-74 edge. Bowie State came down the court and Eric Vann hit a three-pointer from the corner with 5.7 seconds left to give the Bulldogs a 77-75 lead. After a Livingstone turnover, two free throws sealed the victory for Bowie.
Nasir Austin was the leading scorer for the Blue Bears, finishing with 18 points and also grabbing six rebounds. Greg Henry finished with 17 points and Donte Durant had 10. Darius Cox scored eight points and also pulled down 13 rebounds.
The Blue Bears shot 38.2 percent from the field and 20 percent from beyond the arc while Bowie State shot 42.2 percent from the floor including 38.5 percent from long range.
Livingstone will continue in CIAA play on Thursday on the road at Chowan University. Tip-off for Thursday is slated for 7:30 p.m.
