Staff report

RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Union built a 13-point lead midway through the second half and then held on for a 86-78 CIAA men’s basketball victory on Wednesday night.

Livingstone (4-10, 1-4 CIAA) pulled to within four points twice in the final two minutes, but get no closer to the Panthers (13-4, 5-0).

A layup and foul shot from guard Roger Ray got the Blue Bears to 78-74 with 2:05 left. After two Virginia Union free throws, a jumper from Emarri Bailey made the score 80-76 at the 1:42-mark.

Livingstone could get no closer as the Panthers made their shots down the stretch.

The Blue Bears, led by post player David Duncan, who scored half of his 24 points in the first half, led at the break, 41-40. Livingstone had played an excellent first half on the road against a team which is undefeated in the conference.

However, with the score tied at 52-52 with 15:29 left in the game, VUU went on a 13-0 run, capped by a layup from Williams Jenkins, making it 65-52.

Ray finally snapped the Blue Bears’ five-minute scoring drought and Livingstone began digging out of the deep hole.

Following Duncan’s 24 points and eight rebounds was Ray and Bailey with 10 points each. Ramel Belfield had a bad shooting night and scored just five points but he did grab eight rebounds.

Ray Anderson led the Panthers with 22 points and James Paige added 13.

The Livingstone teams return to action on Saturday with a doubleheader at Shaw, beginning at 2 p.m.

LIVINGSTONE (78) — McClendon 5, Burhannon, Duncan 24, Bond 8, Wilson 6, Lundy 6, Ray 10, Belfield 5, Livingston 4, Bailey 10.

VIRGINIA UNION (86) — Anderson 22, Paige 13, Cooley 8, Mitchell 8, Mealy 10, Patterson, Thomas 3, Hoosier 2, Jenkins 8, Moore 12.

Livingstone                 41    37  — 78

Virginia Union           40    46  — 86