Staff report

RICHMOND, Va. — There’s warm, there’s hot, there’s scalding —  and then there’s Livingstone’s Nathan Montaque.

Montaque. a 6-foot-6 forward from Florida, has been chipping with 10 and 12s so far this season, but he broke out on Thursday with a 35-point effort in Livingstone’s 83-81 win at Virginia Union.

Montaque shot 8-for-10 on 3-pointers as the Blue Bears (3-6, 1-1) got a three-game northern swing off to a great start. Montaque was 12-for-19 from the  floor.

Pharoah Lassiter added an efficient 20 points with three 3-pointers and 8-for-13 shooting.

It was a tight game throughout, 42-all at the break.

Montaque thrust a dagger into the home team with his eighth 3-pointer with 1:44 left to play for an 81-76 lead.

Down the stretch, Lassiter and Teon Tiller added free throws, as the Blue Bears hung on to the CIAA victory at Barco-Stevens Hall.

Tajh Harding scored 20 for the Panthers (5-6, 0-1).

Livingstone   42   41    — 83

Va, Union       42    39   — 81

LC — Montaque 35, Lassiter 20, Tiller 8, Allen 7, Leak 5, P. Tako 4, S. Tako 2, Broadnax 2.