WINSTON-SALEM, NC – In a "CIAA Instant Classic", the Winston-Salem State University Rams battled back from an eight point second half deficit to upset the #15 ranked Bowie State Bulldogs, 70-69 at the CE Gaines Center on the WSSU campus. 

With the win, Winston-Salem State moves to 10-2 overall, 3-0 in the CIAA Southern Division.  Bowie State falls to 9-2 overall and 1-1 in the CIAA's Northern Division.

For the second straight night, the Rams won the game in thrilling fashion.  This time by junior guard, Justin Glover, a 65% free throw shooter, converting two from the charity stripe with 0.3 seconds remaining.

Winston-Salem State would force the tempo early, and using some solid defense were able to jump out quick on the much taller Bowie State Bulldogs forcing them into turnovers and allowed the Rams to push out to an early nine point advantage, 21-12. Eventually the lead would grow to 11 at 32 to 31 with 5:49 remaining in the first half.

Playing without Preseason All-CIAA guard, Lamar Monger, and starting forward/center, Stephon Platt, the Rams knew that the Bowie State Bulldogs were not going to go away easy. The Preseason favorite to win the CIAA Northern Division, would battle back led by the three point shooting of Byron Westmorland, who dropped in four from behind the arc in the half.

The Rams would go cold, and the hot shooting Bulldogs put WSSU back on their heels, and Bowie State would end the half on 20-5 run to take a 41-37 lead into the locker room at the half.

The second half was nip and tuck throughout most of the half, before WSSU would make the first move and force its way into a six point lead on a WyKevin Bazemore layup with 12:26 remaining.

But once again the hot shooting Bulldogs would hang around and eventually go back on top by eight points, 63-55 with 5:47 to go, and looked to put the WSSU Rams away.

And for the second consecutive game, Winston-Salem State would settle down, regroup and mount its comeback.

WSSU's WyKevin Bazemore would put the Rams on his young back once again, scoring six points down the stretch and getting huge baskets from NeQuan Melvin, Wakefield Ellison in the waning minutes.

Bowie State held a 67-63 lead in the final two minutes, but a Joseph Thompson put back with 1:49 left, pulled WSSU to within one point, at 67-66.

After a Bulldogs layup, WSSU's WyKevin Bazemore would answer with one of his own with 43 seconds remaining, setting the stage for the last second heroics for the Rams.

The Rams would force and turnover, and with eight second left, Justin Glover would clear the floor and take the ball strong to the basket and getting fouled with 0.3 second left in the game and WSSU down one, 69-68.

He would calmly hit the first free throw to tie the game, before Bowie State would try to freeze him and called a timeout.

After the timeout, Glover stepped to the line and hit nothing but net one the second attempt sending the crowd into a frenzy, with the Rams now leading 70-69.

Bowie State's inbound pass was stolen and the Rams walked away with the huge win.

As has been the case in WSSU's wins this season, the Rams bench outscored the Bulldogs 25-4 and out rebounded the taller Bowie State team, 41-39. The Rams also converted 23 second chance points to Bowie's six.

The score was tied five times, and the lead changed hands four different times on the night.      

WyKevin Bazemore, fresh off of being named this week's CIAA Player and Rookie of the Week, led the Rams with 22 points, while pulling down six rebounds, one blocked shot and two steals.  Justin Glover added 16 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals. NeQuan Melvin, seeing his first significant action of the season, scored a career high 12 points, while also pulling down four rebounds and blocking two shots.  Wakefield Ellison added seven points, four rebounds and one blocked shot, while Marcus Wells also added seven points and pulled down a team high eight rebounds.  Wells also dished out three assists, had three steal and one blocked shot. Kimani Hunt finished with four points, four rebounds and one assist.

Byron Westmorland led Bowie State with a game high 24 points and pulled down six rebounds, while Jay Gavin added 17 points and five rebounds.  Darren Clark chipped in 12 points and five rebounds.

"Wow, what a game," said Bobby Collins, WSSU head coach.  "The hard hat goes to the team. This was a total team effort," added Collins.

"I thought we played off of the spirit of Lamar Monger.  He is our heart and soul.  We could have easily given up when we went down nine, but we hung in there and battled back.  That is the mark of a good team," says Collins.

"The sky is the limit for WyKevin Bazemore, and Justin Glover stepped up and made some big plays for us tonight, including the game winning free throws.  And Nequan Melvin played big for us tonight.  We beat a very good team tonight," added Collins.

"This was a great team effort by our guys," added Collins.  "We have to put this win behind us, and get ready for a really tough Bowie State team on Monday night."

Winston-Salem State University will hit the road for two more games this week, as they will travel to Murfreesboro, NC. To face Chowan University on Thursday night, and Elizabeth City State in Elizabeth City, N.C. on Saturday night.