Baltimore, MD – Bluefield State University men's basketball took down Johnson C. Smith 84-69 to advance to the Semifinals game against Fayetteville State (1S) on Friday.
Jordan Hinds set the tone early, outscoring the Golden Bulls himself 6-2. At the 12:20 mark, the Golden Bulls evened the score at 17. A three from Rell Williams and two free throws from Romeo Aquino gave the Big Bleu the 22-17 lead. A three from Larry Howell extended the Big Blue lead 41-24 with five minutes left in the first. The Golden Bulls cut the lead to 10 with 44 seconds to go, but two free throws from Hinds pushed the Big Blue lead to 12 going into the half.
The Big Blue outscored the Golden Bulls 39-36 in the second half to secure the 84-69 victory. Jordan Hinds led all players with 24 points and Shainen Carter came away with the double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Rell Williams added 18 points with Larry Howell having 12 points and Travon Cooper II with 11.
"I'm proud of our guys for their heart, their hustle and their belief in each other," said Head Coach Devin Hoehn. "The CIAA semifinals is just another step."
Final: Bluefield State 84, Johnson C. Smith 69
Up Next: Bluefield State vs. Fayetteville State (1S) Friday, February 28th at 8 p.m.
