Ronald Thornhill scored a team-high 22 points, including 4-of-8 shooting from the 3-pt line
Box Score
Charlotte, NC – The Johnson C. Smith University men's basketball team topped Bowie State University 79-70 Monday evening inside a packed Brayboy Gymnasium. JCSU improves to 10-5 overall and 4-4 in the CIAA, while the Bulldogs fall to 9-5 overall and 7-3 in the conference.
With five minutes left to play in the first, the game had reached its fifth tie at 29 apiece. Senior forward Dante' Drummer (Norfolk, VA) broke the tie with his first three-pointer of the season, followed by another three from junior guard
Ronald Thornhill (Alberta, VA) on the next possession.
J.C. Smith went into the locker room at the half up 39-33. Senior forward and current CIAA Player of the Week
Jerry Hollis led the Golden Bulls in the first half with 12 points and eight boards. Sophomore guard
James Otey (Roanoke, VA) was 2-of-3 from the three point line and connected on his only two free throw attempts for eight points.
After a lay-up from forward Duke Crews in the second, BSU trailed 45-43 with 14:29 on the clock. Crews lost his cool around the seven minute mark and was charged with a technical foul for unsportsmanlike conduct. Thornhill made good on the free throws and then nailed a three on offense.
With less than a minute to play and JCSU holding onto a 72-66 lead, the Bulldogs were forced to foul. Thornhill pretty much closed the door by going 6-for-6 at the FT line as time winding down.
The Golden Bulls shot almost 40% from the field (24-62) and 72% from the FT line (23-32). Thornhill finished with a game-high 22 points with four assists. Hollis produced his fourth straight double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Otey scored 11, followed by Drummer and senior forward
James Dillard (Apex, NC) with eight points and six boards each.
Delmar Carey carried the load for Bowie with 13 points and 14 rebounds. Crews ended the night with nine points and 11 boards, seeing little time on the court after the technical foul.
“That was our best effort as a unit this season,” said JCSU head coach
Stephen Joyner, Sr. “Defense was our key to success tonight and it needs to be our key to be successful for the remainder of the year.”
JCSU jumped back into conference action on Saturday, January 23rd against Virginia Union University. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 pm inside Barco-Stevens Hall on the campus of VUU.
