Staff report

WINSTON-SALEM — Livingstone guard Roger Ray buried a fall-away jumper from near the foul line, lifting the Blue Bears past Winston-Salem State, 84-82, here Saturday evening.

The win gives Livingstone (11-12 overall, 9-7 CIAA) a sweep of the Rams (5-21, 3-13) this season, as the Blue Bears won, 79-73, in Salisbury on Feb. 3.

Saturday’s game was tied on several occasions, including when Livingstone’s Cameron Burhannon made 1-of-2 free throws, making the score 80-80 with 1:10 remaining.

The Rams missed two shots and then the Blue Bears got a put-back on the other end from 6-9 freshman post player Navar Elmore at the 15-second mark.

W-S State called timeout and then got the ball inside where William Crandell’s layup tied the game again with 13 seconds left.

Livingstone inbounded and Ray slowly and calmly brought the ball upcourt, dribbled toward foul line, pump-faked and then fell back with his jumper, swishing the nets with two seconds left.

The Rams’ Robert Colon got off a desperation, 30-footer but to no avail.

WSSU led by seven points, 64-57, midway through the second half but behind, Ray and Burhannon, the Blue Bears closed with a 27-18 run. Livingstone was also behind, 76-70, with 4:45 remaining, but Lydell Elmore’s 3-pointer but the deficit in half and seemed to ignite the Blue Bears.

Livingstone led by as many as 11 points in the first half at 33-22, after senior guard Ramel Belfield drained four consecutive 3-pointers.

But the Rams fought back and by halftime, the game was tied at 39-39.

Burhannon led the Blue Bears with 17 points, followed by Ray’s 15 and 14 each from Lydell Elmore and Belfield.

The Elmore twins were responsible for 21 rebounds — 14 from Lydell and seven from Navar. Malik Smith grabbed 10 rebounds for Livingstone.

Like Lydell Elmore, the Rams’ Crandell had a double-double, scoring 25 points and securing 10 rebounds. James McAllister scored 15 points for WSSU, followed by Derick Brewer with 10.

Livingstone shot 45 percent from the floor (34-of-75) but the Rams almost won the game from the foul line (25-of-30).

NOTES: The Blue Bears will play Elizabeth City State in the CIAA Tournament on Wednesday at 10 a.m., in Charlotte. WSSU will play immediately afterwards, the next game scheduled for 12:10 p.m. … Saturday’s win was James Stinson’s 199th as head coach at Livingstone.

LIVINGSTONE (84) — McClendon 2, Ray 15, N. Elmore 4, L. Elmore 14, Smith 8, Burhannon 17, Moore 2, Belfield 14, Todd 2, Lewis, Walker, Livingston, McNeill 2, Patterson 4.

WINSTON-SALEM ST. (82) — Mills 4, McCallister 15, Brewer 10, Ngene-Igwe 2, Payne 3, Colon 7, Barnes 7, Farquharson 5, Rucker 2, Crandell 25, McKoy 2, Pippins.

Livingstone           39    45 — 84

W-S State              39    43 — 82