Staff report

RALEIGH — A Livingstone rally in the final two minutes came up short, as the Blue Bears dropped an 82-79 CIAA men’s basketball decision to Shaw here Monday night.

Livingstone, which led by 11 points in the first half, was down by nine with 2:01 remaining. A furious rally, led by guard Roger Ray, cut the deficit to 76-75 with 55 seconds left.

Shaw’s Benji Bell and David Madol combined for 6-of-8 free throws down the stretch and the home-standing Bears led, 82-79, with :09 remaining.

Ray and Jimmy Wilson both missed potential game-tying 3-point shots for Livingstone in the final seconds and Shaw held on for the victory.

Livingstone (6-12, 3-5) was coming off a last-second win over J.C. Smith on home on Saturday and seemed to maintain that momentum during the first half last night. The Blue Bears led with 3:03 left before halftime, 37-26, but Shaw (9-9, 5-3) closed the deficit to 41-38 by intermission.

The second half was a back-and-forth battle until the frantic ending. Livingstone’s last lead came at the 8:03-mark, when Darryl Bond’s layup made it 60-58. Shaw took the lead for good with 7:21 left, on free throws from Bell, who led all scorers with 32 points.

In some ways, the game was a free-throw shooting contest. Livingstone made 79 percent from the line (26-of-33) while Shaw was 25-of-36 (69 percent).

In compiling his 32 points, Bell made 17 of them at the foul line — out of 20 attempts.

Ray led the Blue Bears with 20 points, shooting 4-of-8 from the floor and 12-of-13 from the foul line. Eric Dortch-Jones followed with 11 points and Bond added 10.

Dortch-Jones and David Duncan led Livingstone in rebounding with seven boards each. The Blue Bears out-rebounded Shaw, 40-34, but their turnovers (16) were a problem. Shaw had just 11 miscues.

Livingstone returns to action in Raleigh on Wednesday with a game at St. Augustine’s (7:30 p.m.).

LIVINGSTONE (79) — Belfield 8, Burhannon 4, Duncan 8, Ray 20, Bailey 5, Clowney 5, Wilson 2, Dortch-Jones 11, Bond 10, Lundy 4, McClendon 2.

SHAW (82) — Richardson 15, Bell 32, Madol 8, Robinson 5, Williams 4, Cassady 6, Stephens-Bell 4, Kelsie 6, Ward 2, Goosby.

Livingstone          41    38  —  79

Shaw                     38    44  —  82