Jonathan Hicklin's layup from an Alexander Reed steal 30 seconds into overtime gave Winston-Salem State a lead it would never surrender and a 69-62 win over Bowie State at the C.E. Gaines Center.  The two teams had battled to a 57-57 tie at the end of regulation.

Hicklin hit a free throw with 3:57 to play giving the Rams a three-point advantage, and Xavier Fennel's offensive rebound and thunder dunk maintained the three-point advantage with 42 seconds on the clock.  Isaac Parson hit four consecutive free throws in the final 14 seconds, and the 'SU won its eighth game in the last nine outings.

Parson, who was held scoreless in the first half, was 4-6 from the floor and 7-7 from the free throw to lead the Rams in scoring with 15 points.  Cameron Campbell added 13 points on 5-8 field goals, and Hicklin had seven rebounds and 12 points.  Fennel was also 5-8 from the floor and scored 10 points.

The game was the third in six days for WSSU and was a makeup from December 20.  The Bulldogs were in a Covid protocol when the two teams were scheduled to play in Maryland.

'SU held a 35-23 lead at halftime and was up by nine points with 15:50 left in regulation.  The Bulldogs rallied to lead by four with 3:28 to go. The Rams regained the lead, 57-56, with 2:33 on the clock on Parson's jumper and free throw. 

Bowie's David McCullough hit one of two free throws with 1:09 remaining to tie the game.  Neither team would score again in regulation.

WSSU shot 52.6% for the game and connected on 15-21 free throws for 71.4%.  'SU held a 32-18 edge in rebounding and outscored the Bulldogs 34-24 in the paint.  The Rams committed only six turnovers and converted 11 BSU turnovers into 12 points.

The Rams, still undefeated at the Gaines Center this year, improved to 14-5 overall and 8-3 in CIAA play. WSSU returns to action on Saturday with a 4 p.m. matchup against St. Augustine's at the Gaines Center.  'SU won the first meeting by three points on January 15 in Raleigh.