RALEIGH, N.C. (Jan. 25) – Saint Augustine’s University slowed down Shaw University and it nearly worked in a 54-48 CIAA men’s basketball loss at jam-packed Emery Gymnasium on Wednesday, Jan. 24.
The Bears entered the contest leading the conference in scoring, averaging over 80 points a game. But the Falcons held their crosstown rival to a season-low in points and forced the Bears into 40.7 percent shooting as the Falcons led much of the game.
Free throws ultimately hurt the Falcons as they made 5 of 18 from the charity stripe for 27.8 percent in the contest. The Falcons also shot 34.5 percent from the floor including 28.6 percent in the second half as their 24-19 halftime lead evaporated.
Kasey Bryant (Sr./Raleigh, NC) scored seven straight points to give the Falcons a chance down the stretch. He canned a three-pointer with 2:06 remaining to cut a four-point Bears’ lead to 45-44.
After a Bears’ three, Bryant swished two free throws to cut the deficit to 48-46 with 1:23 left.
The Bears stretched the margin to four points but Bryant hit two free throws with 31.2 seconds remaining to trim the score to 50-48. The Falcons (1-2 Southern Division, 9-11 overall) had two chances to either tie or take the lead after the Bears missed the front end of a one-and-one but they missed a three-pointer and two free throws on one possession. The Bears scored the last four points for the win.
Tyre Gathright (Jr./Wilmington, NC) scored 13 points and Kenneth Collins (Sr./Clayton, NC) added 11 points for the Falcons. Bryant contributed nine points and six rebounds and Quincy January (Sr./Atlanta, GA) amassed 18 rebounds.
Gathright scored nine first-half points as the Falcons limited the Bears to 32 percent shooting in building a five-point halftime lead. The margin increased to eight points at 31-23 on a layup by Quinton Morrow (Jr./Burlington, NC) before the Bears’ made their run.
DeAngelo Stephens-Bell had 16 points and 13 rebounds and Savon Goodman added 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Bears (3-0 Southern Division, 13-6 overall), who shot 48.3 percent in the second half. Cameron Golden, Sr. chipped in 10 points.
The Falcons face Livingstone College in Salisbury, N.C., on Saturday, Jan. 27, at New Trent Gymnasium. Tipoff is 4 p.m.
