Michael Cooper scored 16 points in 19 minutes as a reserve off 6-of-9 shooting, despite a 95-81 loss to Bowie St.
Box Score vs. Bowie State
Milwaukee, WI – The Johnson C. Smith University men's basketball team dropped their first game of the 2010-11 season in a 95-81 loss to Bowie State University on Saturday afternoon inside the Fresh Coast Basketball Classic. Johnson C. Smith moves to 2-1 overall, while BSU improves to 3-0; this was a non-conference contest for both.
Close to the mid way point of the first half, J.C. Smith traded basket with the Bulldogs in search of an advantage. Senior guard
Ronald Thornhill (Alberta, VA) hit a jumper from the left side to give JCSU a 16-15 lead with 11:08 on the clock. That would be the last lead for the Golden Bulls in the first as BSU rattled off a 6-0 scoring run.
Bryan Wilson splashed a three pointer for BSU followed by a lay-up off a turnover for an 11-point lead (32-21) for Bowie State with 7:42 remaining in the initial period. The Bulldogs controlled the tempo for the remainder of the half and went into halftime with a 55-41 lead. Johnson C. Smith was outscored 14-5 in points off turnovers and 9-0 in second chance buckets.
JCSU shot 48% from the field (14-29) and 80% from the free throw line (12-15), compared a 53% from the field (17-32) and 81% from the charity stripe (13-16) for Bowie State. Junior forward/center
Michael Cooper (New Rochelle, NY) had 12 points in just six minutes off the bench at the break. Junior guard
Trevin Parks (Hickory, NC) rang in eight points and two assists.
The Bulldogs put their foot on the throttle in the second half. A minute and a half into the second period, BSU pushed their lead to 21. The Golden Bulls strung together an 11-0 run to draw within seven (66-59) of Bowie State with 14:26 left to play. Unfortunately, BSU regrouped and eventually grew the lead out to 22 at the 7:23 mark of the second half.
J.C. Smith trailed the entire second half, despite both teams scoring 40 in the final period. Thornhill and Cooper both finished off with a team-high 16 points. Senior guard
Ryan Carter (Charlotte, NC) dropped 12 points and seven assists. Parks chipped in 10 points, including a perfect night at the free throw line (6-of-6).
Bowie State had four with double digit point totals as well, including Jay Gavin with a game-high 25 points and seven rebounds. Eric Vann had 22 points, Darren Clark produced 13, and Bryan Wilson pitched in with 12 points of his own.
The Golden Bulls return to action on Saturday, November 27th in the consolation game against St. Paul's College. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 pm on day two of the Fresh Coast Classic held inside the gymnasium at Wisconsin Lutheran College.
