Shaw loses to LIVINGSTONE Bears

Shaw loses to LIVINGSTONE
Bears’ Give 7 – 1 Blue Bears A Run For The Money But Could Not Cash In
Demarcus Merritt
12/5/07

Salisbury, NC – The Shaw University Bears sailed off to William Trent Gymnasium for their head-to-head combat with the Livingstone College Blue Bears. Shaw submitted a valiant effort in which they threatened to take the lead on several occasions. Regrettably, the Bears dropped their third season loss to Livingstone, 83 – 70.

In the first half of play, Shaw shot a fair 55% (16 of 29) from the field and a summer resort 83% (five of six) from the charity-stripe. LC took possession of the tip-off and succeeded in sinking their first shot of the game with one of two made free throws by #23 Michael Duncan. Shaw snatched the lead 4 – 3 after a lay-up by #34 John Kornegay (Guard / 5 – 10 / Senior / Detroit, MI) and a floor shifting slam by #21 Brandon Greene (Forward / 6 – 6 / Senior / Slidell, LA). The Blue Bears Duncan returned to the free throw line to tie the game at 4 – 4. However, Shaw snapped the tie with a 7 – 0 scoring spurt to lead 11 – 4. Just under the 15 minute mark, the Blue Bears bullied their way back with their own massive offensive production. LC’s 14 – 2 scoring run gifted the home team with a double digit lead (23 – 13). LC looked in shock and awe at the 8:10 mark as Shaw’s #5 Brandon Armistead (Guard / 6 – 3 / Junior / Brooklyn, NY) capped a 10 – 0 scoring run by hitting nothing but net from behind the arc to tie the game at 23 – 23. The Bears and Blue Bears were tied for the third time of the game (25 – 25) after #20 Robert Espinosa (Forward / 6 – 7 / Senior / Plainfield, NJ) rose above the LC defense to rock the rim with a dunk! Unfortunately, LC lifted off to take possession of their largest lead of nine points (36 – 27) with a second scoring run of 11 – 2. Shaw made small snips at minimizing their point deficit as the Blue Bears still led by nine, 43 – 34, inside the two minute mark. The Bears cut the lead to just three points, 43 – 40 LC, with two made free throws by Armistead, a lay-up by Greene, and a quick jumper by Kornegay. The Blue Bears made two free throws with seven seconds remaining in the first half to track out in the forefront by five, 45 – 40 at the intermission.

The Bears immediately sliced LC’s point margin advantage to three with a steal and the jumper by #30 Damola Obadina (Forward / 6 – 5 / Senior / Minneapolis, MN). However, the Blue Bears would pull away to lead by 11 points (61 – 50) after a scored basket by #32 Durrell Baker at the 10:26 mark. Once again, Shaw positioned their hands on the doorknob of opportunity with consecutive lay-ups by #1 Will Graham (Guard / 5 – 10 / Junior / Minneapolis, MN) and a tip-in by Greene to be down five points (61 – 56 LC). The Bears banged boisterously on that same door of opportunity to be within one point (64 – 63 LC) of tying or taking the lead with a top of the key three-pointer by #00 Cori Gaither (Forward / 6 – 5/ Senior / Jacksonville, FL) and another lay-up by Obadina. With only fifty seconds left in the contest and trailing 77 – 70, Shaw took a timeout after Kornegay’s fast break dish was transferred into two-points kissed off the backboard by Greene. Despite defending LC to be scoreless from the field in the last two minutes and fourteen seconds of the game, Shaw was forced to foul as time swiftly ticked away off the game clock. The Blue Bears barricaded their lead sinking six of eight attempted free throw attempts in the final 46 seconds.

The Bears had four student-athletes in double figures. Leading all scorers was #30 Damola Obadina with 14 points (a team high seven rebounds / two assists / one block / two steals). Providing additional scoring was #34 John Kornegay with 12 points (three rebounds / three assists / one steal), #21 Brandon Greene with 10 points (four rebounds / one assist), and #1 Will Graham with 10 points (three rebounds / one steal).

The Shaw University Bears will look to capture their first CIAA feat of the season against the Johnson C. Smith University Golden Bulls. The game will be held in Charlotte, NC at Brayboy Gymnasium on Tuesday, December 11, 2007. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.