Clutch Play Leads Virginia State to Victory Over Bowie State

Bowie, MD- In a dramatic and hard-fought contest, Virginia State held off a late surge by Bowie State to win 77-70 in what was a thrilling game from start to finish.
 
Bowie State jumped out to an early lead in their matchup against Virginia State, starting strong with a layup from Victory Naboya and a jumper by Elijah Davis. The Bulldogs quickly gained momentum, but Virginia State responded with a jumper from Daryl Mackey Jr. and free throws from Jacob Cooper, tying the game at 4-4.

As the first half progressed, Bowie State began to build a lead. However, Virginia State was determined to stay in the game. Fastbreak points from Clint Wright Jr. and layups from Davian Coleman brought the score to 14-11. Despite Virginia State's efforts, Bowie State kept the lead, with Justin Morrisey hitting a three-pointer and Wimbush adding a layup, giving the Bulldogs a slight advantage.
Coming out of the break, Bowie State extended their lead, starting with a jumper from Naboya and a dunk by Morrisey, making it 26-20. Virginia State fought back once again, as Jayson Harris contributed with layups and Jaedan Jefferson with a dunk to tie the game at 33-33. With the game tied and the pressure mounting, Corey Barnes put Bowie State back in front with a key jumper, followed by free throws from Dylan Edwards.

Virginia State would not go down easily, as Harris hit two free throws to tie the game once more at 37-37. However, in the final moments, Amare Wimbush delivered a clutch jumper to secure the lead for the Bulldogs going into halftime at 39-37.
As the second half kicked off, Virginia State quickly tied the game at 39-39 with a layup from Jayson Harris. Bowie State responded swiftly with a free throw by Wimbush and a crucial tip-in by Mouganda, regaining a slight advantage.

Midway through the second half, the game became a back-and-forth affair as both teams exchanged leads multiple times.  Davis hit a key three-pointer for Bowie State, while Clint Wright Jr. and Dajour Rucker made critical plays for Virginia State, keeping the game tight.

In the final minutes, Virginia State surged ahead with a three-pointer from Jared White and a layup from Jacob Cooper, giving them a small but significant lead. Bowie State didn't back down, responding with points from Amare Wimbush and Joseph Allen, but Virginia State held strong. They extended their lead with free throws and a timely three-pointer by Rucker.
In the closing moments, Virginia State sealed the victory with free throws from Jacob Cooper and a final three-pointer from Rucker, finishing the game with a 77-70 win.
 
The Trojans will head back on the road against the Panthers of Virginia Union on Saturday, Feb 22, at 4 pm.