Bloomsburg Downs Goldey-Beacom for First Win

BOWIE, MD —Johns Owens scored the Bloomsburg's final six points over the final 2:20 to lift the Bloomsburg University men's basketball team to a 64-59 win over Goldey-Beacom College (GBC) in the second round of the Best Western Classic in Bowie, MD.

The Huskies (1-2) jumped out to the early lead in the game leading 16-7 after the first eight minutes. Marion “Buddy” Rose hat the hot-hand early for the Huskies scoring six points in the early going.

Goldey-Beacom (0-2) then responded by going on a 9-1 run of its own to grab a one-point lead, 18-17, with 7:06 to play in the half. After the teams traded baskets, Goldey-Beacom opened a six-point lead at 29-23 before back-to-back baskets by Rose closed the margin to 29-27 with 2:42 left. However, GBC hit three-free throws in the final 1:35 to lead 32-27 at the break.

Bloomsburg quickly fell behind by 11, 38-27, when GBC scored the first six points of the second half. Bloomsburg rallied with an 11-2 keyed by five points from freshman Andrew Jerry to get to within two, 40-38, with 14:20 to play in the game.

Goldey-Beacom, though, got eight points from Ron Reed in the next two minutes to go back in front by eight, 48-40. Then later, after the Huskies trailed 53-42 with 8:42 left, Bloomsburg began its comeback.

A jumper from Jeremiah Long, a three-pointer by John Owens and a free throw by Billy Byran made it a five point game, 53-48, with 7:16 to go. Then, with the GBC leading 57-50, with 4:31 left, Bob Nenstield made a conventional three-point play to made it a four point deficit, 57-53 with 3:51 to play. Byran then hit back-to-back jumpers to tie the score at 57-all with 2:20 to go.

Owens then took over and hit a jumper following a GBC turnover for the Huskies first lead, 59-57, since the first half. After GBC miss, Owens hit another jumper for a 61-57 Bloomsburg lead with 46 ticks left on the clock.

After Goldey-Beacom's Brian Fauston hit a jumper to make it 61-59 with 20 seconds left, Owens hit two free throws with 18 seconds remaining for a 63-59 lead. After a GBC miss, the Huskies rebounded and ran out the clock.

Owens led the Huskies with 19 points, while Rose added 10. Reed led GBC with 20 points, while Duron Parks added 13 points.

Bloomsburg is back in action on Tuesday at 7 p.m. taking on Mercyhurst at the Nelson Field House.