FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- Bowie State outlasted Fairmont State, 99-96, on Monday evening in non-conference action at Joe Retton Arena. Bowie State's Cameron Knox scored a career-high 30 points in the victory.
After starting the season 3-0, the Falcons have dropped three of the last five games, including three in a row at Joe Retton Arena, and are now 5-3 on the season. Bowie State improves to 6-3 on the season.
Both teams shot over 50 percent from the floor, with the Falcons holding a slim advantage (56.7-54.0). FSU also held a 35-29 advantage on the glass and scored 44 points in the paint. Bowie State knocked down 10 three-pointers and scored 22 points off 18 FSU turnovers in the game. The Bulldogs also knocked down 21-of-27 free throw attempts in the victory.
Nick Harney led the Falcons with 26 points and pulled down six rebounds in the losing effort.
Jamel Morris also recorded a 20-point performance for FSU with 21 points to go with six boards. Wil Martinez chipped in 15 points off the bench while
Chase Morgan and
Caleb Davis each recorded 11.
Shammgod Wells had a team-high five assists.
In addition to Knox's 30-point performance, Bowie State got 22 points from Andre Jackson, 13 from Miles Jackson and 10 apiece from Zafir Williams and Ahmaad Wilson. Williams also had a game-high seven assists for the Bulldogs.
Bowie State opened up an 11-point lead less than five minutes into the game, led by 11 points from Knox, to force a Fairmont State timeout. Following the timeout, FSU slowly chipped away at the lead and cut the advantage to just three after a
Brandon Vega three at the 11:12 mark. The score remained within six for the next 11 minutes of the half with five ties, including a 49-49 score at the half. Knox scored 22 points and Jackson chipped in 14 to lead BSU at the half. Harney and Morris each scored 11 for the Falcons in the opening half. Both teams shot over 60 percent from the field in the opening half.
The second half score was within six for the first 16 minutes before the Bulldogs grabbed the largest advantage of the second half at the 4:02 mark (89-83). Fairmont State answered with an 8-2 run over the next two minutes to tie the game for the 14th times at 91-91. However, each time FSU tied the game, Bowie State had an answer at the opposite end and never allowed FSU to take the lead the rest of the game. With under 25 seconds to play, following a missed FSU free throw, the Falcons grabbed the offensive rebound and had two missed layups that could have tied the game.
With eight seconds remaining, Knox was fouled and put Bowie State ahead, 98-94, at the line. At the opposite end, Wil Martinez was fouled going to the rim and cut the Bulldog lead to just two with four seconds remaining. Knox returned to the foul line for Bowie State and went 1-of-2 to give FSU one more opportunity but a late turnover sealed the 99-96 victory for Bowie State.
FSU will host another CIAA opponent on Saturday afternoon when Winston-Salem State comes to town for a 4 p.m. tip.
