Staff report

SALISBURY — It’s tough to win a Division II men’s college basketball game without anyone scoring in double figures.

Livingstone attempted that feat on Thursday at Trent Gym, but lost a 66-54 decision to Virginia State in a low-scoring scrap between middle of the pack teams.

Levar Allen and Khyree Temple led the Blue Bears (6-8, 3-3) with nine points each. A dozen Blue Bears scored at least one point.

Field-goal percentages weren’t unusually low and turnover totals weren’t unusually high in a CIAA game attended by 248 fans.

Where Livingstone lost the game was at the 3-point line (2-for-15) and the foul line. The Blue Bears shot a dismal 8-for-24 on free throws, while Virginia State was 19-for-26 from the charity stripe.

Kendall Bynum led Virginia State (8-8, 4-3) with an efficient 14 points on 5-for-7 shooting.

Virginia State       38    28   — 66

Livingstone          30     24    — 54

LIVINGSTONE — Allen 9, Temple 9, Thomas 6, Broderick 6, Tiller 5, Herd 5, Montaque 4, Leach 3, Lassiter 3, Leak 2, P. Tako 1, Shaw 1.