Bluefield, WV – Bluefield State University men's basketball fell to Bluefield University in the Battle of the Bluefields 83-76 on Saturday at Ned Shott Gymnasium.
Malik Tidwell led all scorers with 31 points followed by Jordan Hinds with 19. Hirotaka Ohashi led the Big Blue with 11 rebounds.
The Rams got on the board first, but the Big Blue took the one-point lead at the 16:48 mark off of a midrange jumper from Landry Palata. A three by Chase Page put the Big Blue ahead by five midway through the half. A layup from Tidwell put to Big Blue up by nine, but the Rams closed out the half with 15 consecutive points to take the 36-28 lead over the Big Blue into the half.
A layup by Tidwell pulled the Big Blue within one five minutes into the second half, but the Rams answered with eight points in a row to extended their lead to nine. After taking the three-point lead with five minutes left in play, the Rams hit a three to even the score at 69. Ohashi took back the lead for the Big Blue with a top of the key three, but the Rams answered with a 10-0 run to take the lead. Tidwell would complete the fastbreak layup with 29 seconds left in play, but a trip to the line for the Rams would give them the seven-point victory over the Big Blue.
Up Next
The Big Blue will travel to Alderson Broaddus University Monday, January 23rd at 7 p.m.
