MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Chowan Men's Basketball team rallied from a 16 point halftime deficit but ultimately fell against nationally ranked Virginia State in CIAA action on Wednesday evening.

THE BASICS

FINAL | Chowan 81, #18 Virginia State 87

RECORDS | Chowan 12-11 (5-9), Virginia State 21-4 (13-1)

LOCATION | Murfreesboro, N.C. (Helms Center)

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

Chowan shot 51.6% and held Virginia State 25.0% shooting in the second half to make a run.

Michael Kelly led the Hawks with a double-double posting 23 points on 10-18 shooting and 11 rebounds.  Gus Rowland added 17 points, eight assists, and six rebounds.

Timothy Bing tallied 15 points grabbing 12 points from the stripe.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Half:

Virginia State opened up the contest on a 17-4 run.  Michael Kelly connected on his first shot from the floor before Deon Joyner hit two from the stripe.

Michael Kelly slowed the run with a layup before another layup by Kelly and a layup by Gus Rowland to close the gap to 19-10.

Timothy Bing picked up four points at the stripe before the Trojans went on a 12-0 run to lead 33-14.  Gus Rowland, Deon Joyner, and Demetrius Sanders tallied two points each.

Virginia State pushed the advantage to 22, 48-26, with 2:01 to play forcing the Hawks to call their third timeout of the game.

Michael Kelly scored the final eight points for the Hawks to trail 50-34 at the intermission.

Second Half:

Chowan sparked a 14-3 run out of the locker room to cut the deficit to five, 53-48, with 12:50 to play.  Gus Rowland knocked down a jumper and Michael Kelly connected from deep to start the run.  After a layup by the Trojans, Kelly added a layup and Demetrius Sanders added a tip-in to keep the rally going.

Michael Kelly added a jumper and Gus Rowland tallied a three-point play to cap off the run.  The Trojans would connect from deep before the Hawks went on the attack again.  Timothy Bing started with a pair from the stripe.  Gus Rowland added two layups to force a timeout by VSU, 56-54.

Chowan continued to chip away at the deficit as VSU pushed the lead to six, 62-56.  Timothy Bing knocked down a triple.  Bing added three from the stripe and Gus Rowland added a layup.  Xavier Young posted a three-point play to knot the score at 67-all.

VSU held off the Hawks at the stripe to lead 76-70 with 1:07 to play.  Trejvon McFail, Ta'Sean Young, and Deon Joyner connected from deep in the final seconds of the contest but were unable to catch a break as the Trojans sunk free throws.

UP NEXT

Chowan will look to snap their skid as the Hawks take on Bowie State in CIAA action on Saturday, February 16.  Tip-off is slated for 4pm.