Staff report

RICHMOND, Va. — Livingstone ran into a hot-shooting Virginia Union squad and fell to the Panthers, 105-91, in CIAA men’s basketball action here Thursday night.

Virginia Union made 61 percent of its field goal attempts (42-for-69), including 10-of-17 from the 3-point arc. The Blue Bears shot 49 percent from the floor (37-of-75), but were off on 3-pointers, making just nine of 24 attempts.

Livingstone falls to 7-10 overall and 2-4 in the CIAA. The Panthers improve to 8-9 and 3-4 in the conference.

Coach James Stinson’s Blue Bears placed five scorers in double figures, led by Ty Newman’s 16 points. Daryl Trynham followed Newman with 15 points, Nasir Austin scored 14 and Austin Harris and Jimmy Wilson added 10 points each.

However, Livingstone could not contain Virginia Union’s Ray Anderson. A 6-3 junior guard, Anderson scored 31 points to lead the Panthers. He made 12-of-20 from the floor and 7-of-8 free throws.

Danny McElroy scored 19 points for the Panthers, followed by 13 from Kory Cooley and 11 from Colton Lewis.

The two teams traded baskets throughout a high-scoring first half that ended in favor of Virginia Union, 50-43.

Jauris King’s layup for Livingstone tied the score at 15-15 with 13:16 remaining in the first half but that would be the last time the Blue Bears had at least a share of the lead. The visitors had to play uphill the rest of the game.

The Panthers then went on a 12-2 run to go up, 27-17, and take command.

Cordero Holt’s three-point play with 4:42 left in the first half pulled Livingstone to within six points at 38-32, but the Panthers extended the lead again, before intermission.

In the second half, Virginia Union, leading 57-47, went on an 11-0 run to further break the game open. The Panthers led by as many as 21 points at 68-47 and 80-59.

Livingstone did fight back and pulled to within nine points at 94-85, on a 3-pointer from Harris with 3:52 left, but could get no closer as the Panthers went on a quick 7-1 run to ice the issue.

After an 0-4 mark on the four-game CIAA road trip, Livingstone will be glad to be back home on Saturday. The Blue Bears will host Shaw at New Trent Gym at 4 p.m.

Livingstone’s women’s team will also host Shaw on Saturday, tipping off at 2 p.m.

 

LIVINGSTONE (91) — Trynham 15, Dubose 7, Newman, 16, Holt 7, Austin 14, Cole 4, Ayscue 3, Harris 10, Flint 3, Johnson, King 2, Wilson 10, Belfield, Langley.

VIRGINIA UNION (105) — Gibson 7, Anderson 31, McElroy 19, Cooley 13, Lewis 11, Valentine 9, Mitchell 7, Whatley, Mealy 8.

Livingstone           43    48   — 91

Virginia Union     50    55    — 105