Staff report

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Livingstone fell to No. 24 Clayton State, 91-79, here Friday night at Armstrong State University’s BJ Ford Classic.

The Blue Bears (1-1) will face the host Armstrong State (0-3)  team today at 4 p.m.

Livingstone, which opened its season with an overtime win at Queens, 63-54, on Wednesday, kept last night’s game close, other than a 23-11 second quarter. That period put the Blue Bears behind the eight ball and even though they had a great, 26-point third quarter, so did the Lakers, scoring 27.

The poor second quarter put Livingstone behind, 42-29, at halftime. However, the Blue Bears never gave up, scoring 50 points in the second half. In fact, take out the second period, and the score was 68-68, in the other three quarters.

Guard Zena Lovette, who led Livingstone against Queens with 16 points and 17 rebounds, again sparked first-year coach Tiffany Silver’s Blue Bears. Lovette scored 17 points and pulled down 11 rebounds against Clayton State.

Ariana De’Jesus and Brittany Taylor, also guards, followed in double figures for Livingstone. Taylor scored 16 points, making 3-of-8 3-point field goals. She also had nine rebounds. De’Jesus scored 12 points.

Newcomer Shannon Buchanan, a junior transfer from Guilford Tech, scored 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds in her second game for Livingstone. Junior guard Deonna Young also scored eight points.

Tierra Johnson led Clayton State (3-0) with 20 points. Abreyin Rackley scored 15 points and had 14 rebounds.

LIVINGSTONE (79) — Patterson 5, Hunter, Lovette 17, De’Jesus 12, Taylor 16, Green 8, Buchanan 11, Young 8, Redfern 2, Cardriche.

CLAYTON STATE (91) — Johnson 20, Cunningham 2, Dennard 5, Benford 11, Banks 4, Hawkins 11, Rackley 15, Dyson 4, Alexander 3, Tanksley 1, Thomas 15.

Livingstone       18     11     26    24 — 79

Clayton St.         19    23    27    22 — 91