(RALEIGH, NC)- A pair of Marquie Cooke free throws with 2.8 seconds on the clock may be what the scorebook says was the difference in Shaw's 46-44 loss to Elizabeth City State, but turnovers are really what cost the Bears the game.

With Raheem Smith sidelined with a sprained ankle, Shaw (10-5, 3-3 CIAA) struggled to find an offensive rhythm and turned the ball over 29 times on the evening, allowing Elizabeth City State (9-4, 3-2 CIAA) 21 points off of turnovers – nearly a half's worth of points in this low scoring affair.

Both teams followed a similar pattern, struggling to find a shooting touch in the first (Shaw hit only 27 percent of their shots, while ECSU hit 22 percent), then came back with a much stronger second half (50 percent for Shaw and 48 percent for ECSU). 

The first half was close throughout, but with multiple stretches of 90 seconds or more when neither team scored.  The score was tied seven times throughout the first half and the largest lead by either team was five points, when ECSU's Trent Bivens hit a free throw with 9:02 left in the half to give the Vikings a 14-9 lead.

With 3:48 left in the half, ECSU took a two-point lead on Deon Rice's tip in, but neither team would score another field goal.  Shaw, however, made three free throws in that span to give them a 21-20 halftime lead.

The Vikings controlled the second half almost from tip to whistle.  They took the lead with their first points of the half – a Rondy Tucker layup – then both teams failed to score until more than four minutes had passed in the half. 

Slowly, the Vikings pulled away from Shaw, finally taking an eight-point lead – their largest of the game – when Bivens hit a trey for the 40-32 lead with 9:38 left in the half.

With 2:38 left in the game, Shaw's Devon Mclendon hit a three-pointer to cut the ECSU lead to two, 44-42.  Bivens would extend the lead to four on a layup, but Tony Smith threw down a dunk to cut the lead back to two with 1:03 left in the game.

After a missed layup by the Vikings, Smith led the Bears down the court and was fouled.  The foul put Smith at the line for the one-and-one.  He made both, tying the game for the first time in the second half – with only 8.8 seconds remaining.

Cooke drove the ball toward the hoop and was fouled with 2.8 seconds left in the game.  He hit both, giving ECSU the 48-46 margin.  A turnover – apropos of the evening – ended the Bear attempt at the other end of the court.

Smith led the Bears with 20 points, ten rebounds and five assists.  Mclendon had 12 points for Shaw.

Cooke led the Vikings with 12 points and he and Paul Goldsmith had six rebounds apiece. 

The Bears return to action Thursday, January 20 when they travel to Lincoln, PA to take on the Lions at 7:30 p.m.  On Saturday, they travel across town to Saint Augustine's for a contest that tips at 4:00 p.m.  They return home Saturday, February 5 to host Johnson C. Smith at 8:00 p.m.

Photos:  Devon Mclendon (left) goes for the dunk in the first half of Shaw's loss.  Tony Smith (right) launches a three as the shot clock closes in on zero.