No. 23 Bulldogs Finish Regular Season in Style

BOWIE, MD, February 20, 2003---After grinding their way through a grueling Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association schedule the past month and a half, the Bowie State University Bulldogs got the kind of game they needed heading into the CIAA Tournament.

The Bulldogs hosted NAIA Southern Virginia University and were too big, too fast and just too much for the Knights to handle as the Bulldogs cruised to the 94-65 win.

"It was a good game because the guys were able to go out there and have some fun," said head coach Luke D'Alessio, whose squad finished the season with a school best 23-4 record.

It was also a good game for All-CIAA forward Tim Washington to have an easy night and rest an injured hand that has been troubling him the past few weeks. He made 4-of-5 from the field and finished with just eight points in his limited time on the court.

Leading the fun patrol in the game in which every player scored was Arthur Lewis, Jr.. He got his second start of the year in as many nights at point guard and scored 16 points, many of those points coming off his five steals, and added five assists.

While the Bulldogs banged the ball inside to All-CIAA center Jon Smith, who dunked for his first eight points, the Knights stayed with the Bulldogs by hitting four treys in the first 11 minutes of the game. Once the Bulldogs, especially Omarr Smith, got warmed up from the outside, however, it was lights out for the Knights.

Jon Smith would finish the game with 14 points and overpowered the smaller Knights defensively with six blocked shots. Omarr Smith drilled five 3-pointers in eight attempts and finished with a team-high 20 points.

Brian Beckstand tried to keep the Knights in the game as he scored a game-high 24 points, including three 3-pointers. Ryan Henderson added 12 points for the Knights as well.

Stephen Moss-Kelley was tough on the inside for the Bulldogs, finishing with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

The Bulldogs will take a well-deserved rest now until they play in the second round of next week's CIAA Tournament. They will play on Thursday with the starting time yet to be determined.