BSU Takes CIAA Regular Season Crown
Ron Bailey, Publisher
The Bulldogs celebrated Monday.
February 22, 2011 - With its men's basketball team
hanging on to defeat Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association rival
Virginia Union 78-76 - in the process finishing its regular season and
clinching that leagues season title and first seed in the conference tournament
- the Leonidas S. James Physical Education Complex was rocking. It was
a grand time for all things Bowie State.
Coming into the game, Union (14-8 overall, 12-5 in the CIAA, 8-3 in division)
wanted to avenge a previous, overtime loss to BSU, yet went down 14-5
early. During the stretch, Bowie's junior forward Travis Hyman was active,
rebounding, scoring and defending. For the contest Hyman finished with
16 points, nine rebounds and four blocks, while scoring the team's first
six points.
Byron Westmoreland slams in the second half.
Senior guard Eric Vann scored 25 points on 10-15 shooting, while also logging four assists, four steals and a pair of rebounds, to lead BSU. But it was sophomore Byron Westmoreland that was a boost for Bowie in the second half, scoring 15 points, five rebounds and two assists. He dropped nine points in the second stanza.
"West has always been an offensive spark for us, which is why we
always bring him off the bench" said Darryl Brooks, in his second
year leading Bowie’s program, of Westmoreland after the game. "He
did a nice job tonight defensively, and when he penetrated and drew help,
he did a nice job kicking the ball to open shooters".
"I just think my team needed some help off the bench, needed me to
come in and spark us up so that's what I provided" stated Westmoreland.
As pivotal as his second half was last night, Westmoreland ironically
thought his second stanza play in the second half of Bowie's previous
87-83 victory over Union was better.
His work was necessary, given senor Braxton Byerson's 25 points, six rebounds
and two steals, as Union's leading scorer almost singlehandedly brought
VU back in the second half: Starting with just over 16 minutes before
the final horn and his team down by 16, Byerson hit a three pointer, and
continued the onslaught by dropping 17 points to finish the game - five
of those buckets being three pointers.
Brooks was complementary of Byerson's play, opining "He's probably
a Player of the Year finalist, if not the Player of the Year. He's a senior.
He's done that for four years".
Adding to the revelry was the BSU women's team dismantling of Union, 76-49
beforehand. For the season, Bowie's ladies are 17-9, 12-6, 9-3. Union
stands 3-21, 3-4, 3-8, and was led by LaTasia Robinson's nine points.
Bowie got 15 points, five rebounds and 10 points, five rebounds from a
pair of senior guards, Brittney Jackson and Brianna Taylor, respectively.
The fact that both teams celebrated senior night also added to an already electric atmosphere, while the men's team receiving a send off simply fueled it further; they are headed to the CIAA's postseason confab, with competition beginning March 3rd. The guys are 22-4, 16-2, 11-1 for the season
Brooks said of his squads tourney readiness "We are ready to roll.
We just know we have to play a certain way. We have to play BSU basketball;
(if they) defend, rebound, get out and run and share the ball, we give
ourselves a good chance to win".
Up next for the Lady Bulldogs is the CIAA women's tourney, which like
the men's, is held in Charlotte, NC, starting March 1st.
Recruiting Notes:
Bowie recently got an oral commitment from Gwynn Park (MD) senior forward Tion Barnes. The 6'3" athletic swingman talks recruiting, development and the upcoming Maryland HS playoffs, here.
Expect Barnes, who is averaging around 15 points and six rebounds for Gwynn Park this year, to redshirt at Bowie.
Future Bowie Bulldog, Tion Barnes.
Keith Shivers, a contributor to i95Ballerz.com and John Savoy, his teammate
at Wise HS (MD) both attended the ball game.
Pro Notes:
Hyman, a 6'11" center has been scouted by NBA franchises Atlanta, Sacramento, Golden State, Houston, San Antonio and the NJ Nets.
Former BSU standout, Duke Crews, shared he was set to leave for Macedonia, today, where he will play professional ball.
Audio Collection:
Coach Brooks during post game celebration
Byron Westmoreland during post game celebration.