Bowie State escaped double overtime with a narrow 88-87 win over Elizabeth City State on Saturday afternoon. Saiquan Jamison’s tip-in during the extra session proved to be the difference in a tight CIAA North matchup.
David Belle led the way with 24 points for Bowie State.
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Neck-and-neck
Both teams couldn’t get anything to fall for the first two minutes. ECSU (11-12, 7-5, 1-4) struck first with a three-pointer to kickstart a 17-7 run. BSU (13-10, 9-3, 3-2) ignited once Cameron Hayes hit a three and cut the trail to seven with 11:35 left in the first half. ECSU didn’t go away, but BSU went on a 14-7 run highlighted by five free throws from David Belle to cut the trail to 34-31. Hayes hit another three-pointer with two seconds remaining to tie the game up at 34 going into halftime.
BSU got its first lead of the game at 42-41 with 11:53 remaining in the second half. Belle led another run for the Bulldogs to go up 49-42, but the Pirates would not quit and retook the lead at 52-51 with 6:55 remaining in regulation. BSU and ECSU battled back and forth with five narrow lead changes for the remainder of regulation. A dunk from Belle gave BSU the 66-64 lead with 26 seconds left in regulation, but two successful ECSU free throws sent the game into OT tied at 66.
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Down to the wire(s)
Bowie and ECSU continued to battle close in OT as neither team took a lead larger than three points. BSU’s Rinardo Perry went to the line and took the 78-76 lead with 16 seconds left, but ECSU was not ready to go home. A clutch buzzer beater jumper took the game to double OT tied at 78.
ECSU opened up double overtime hot and took an 87-81 lead with 1:51 remaining. BSU’s Hayes wasn’t done shooting beyond the arc, though, and cashed another three-pointer to ignite a 7-0 run before Jamison’s tip sealed the deal.
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Three Bulldogs finished with double figures in the north division battle. Hayes added 16 for BSU and Juwan Smith closed it out with 15 while Jamison contributed 8 points and 11 rebounds. The Bulldogs collectively shot 8-13, an impressive 61.5%, from three in the win.
Omar Roberts led ECSU with 18 points.
Bowie State is back in action on Saturday, February 9 against host Lincoln University. Tip-off is at 4 PM.
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