A SLOW START, BUT STRONG FINISH FOR THE BULLDOGS AGAINST SHAW
February 28, 2007
In the opening round of the 62nd Annual CIAA Men's Basketball Tournament, sixth seed Bowie State University matched up against eleventh seed Shaw University inside the Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Shaw University looked impressive in the early minutes of the first half, but the Bulldogs would eventually snitch away the victory, 82-65, led by senior guard Gil Goodrich.
In the first half, Shaw University got off to a good start. The Bears were up 14-2 with 16:03 on the clock before Bowie State would score their second basket of the half. BSU called their second timeout after Shaw's Damola Obadina had a putback slam at the 13:38 mark that put the Bears up 20-7. CIAA Men's Player of the Year Gil Goodrich stepped up for the Bulldogs, scoring their next 13 points, including a free throw and four three pointers. Shaw was holding on to just a 24-20 lead with 8:04 remaining. Each team began consistently scoring on their offensive possessions, and then Goodrich got the hot hand again. With 2:39 left in the half, Shaw's lead had been reduced to one (33-32) due to Goodrich scoring the last eight Bulldog points. BSU's Tyronne Beale hit a jumper from the right corner to give Bowie State their first lead, 34-33. The half would end with Bowie State up 39-38. At halftime, Goodrich had 24 points, shooting 77 percent behind the three point line (7 for 9), and the team's only three assists of the half.
In the second half, BSU started going inside to their senior forward Tyronne Beale, who scored 12 second half points. The Bulldogs scored 30 points in the paint compared to only eight in the first half. Bowie State forced nine second half turnovers which translated into 16 points and finished with 28 total points off turnovers for the game. Shaw would tie the score in the second half, but never recapture the lead as Bowie State went to a 82-65 victory.
BSU had two players finish with a double-double (Goodrich and Beale) and four with double digit point totals. Goodrich had 11 assists, four steals, and a game-high 32 points on a 45 percent (9-20) shooting night. Beale contributed 20 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks. Joshua Johnson finished with 11 points for Bowie State, while Jason Ingram pinched in 10 points and seven rebounds.
Obadina had the team-high in points and rebounds for Shaw with 12 and 10, respectively. Melvin Smith scored 11 points and pulled down six rebounds for the Bears, and Brandon Greene ended the game with 10 points and five rebounds, despite the loss.
With the win, Bowie State moves on to the quarterfinals to face the Golden Bulls of Johnson C. Smith University, Thursday, March 1, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.