(Salisbury, NC) - The Shaw men's basketball team gave up a seven-point lead late in the second half, and missed a last-second bucket, falling to Livingstone 61-58 in a game played at Trent Gym on the Livingstone campus.

Shaw (11-7, 4-5 CIAA) had a seven-point lead with under six minutes left in the game, but Livingstone (10-5, 5-3 CIAA) fought back, scoring a go-ahead bucket with 12.8 seconds remaining on the clock.  The Bears struggled from the free throw line, sinking only six of 13, and missed a critical shot in the closing seconds of the game.

The first half got off to a slow start for both teams.  With 14:13 left in the first, Darryl Johnson took a pass from Raheem Smith and drained a jumper to tie the game at 11.  Neither team would score again until 9:05 remained in the half when Livingstone's Quentin Redfern hit a jumper to break the tie and the seemingly endless scoreless drought. 

With 3:16 left in the first, Aaron Wilson hit a trey for the Blue Bears, giving them a 20-18 lead.  Smith answered almost immediately with a three of his own, beginning an 11-2 scoring run for Shaw that finished the first half and sent the Bears to the locker room with a 29-22 lead.

Livingstone opened the second with the hot hand, outscoring the Bears 11-2, ending with a jumper by Omar Ford-Bey with 14:27 left in the game.  Devon Mclendon hit a three for the Bears to retake the lead at 34-33, but over the next minute and a half, the Blue Bears not only took the lead, but built it into a six-point advantage - 42-36 with 12:20 remaining.

The Bears answered with a run of their own - this one 20-7, fueled by 13 points from Mclendon.  With 5:14 left, he hit a jumper that gave the Bears a 56-49 lead.

The Blue Bears fought their way back.  With 56 seconds left, Trone Jackson drove the length of the floor for Livingstone and hit the layup that tied the game at 57.

Livingstone fouled Darryl Johnson, but he hit only one of the two, giving the Bears the slim 58-57 lead.  With 12.8 seconds left,  Jackson hit another layup to give the Blue Bears a 59-58 lead. 

The Bears took a time out with nine seconds left.  Raheem Smith inbounded the ball to Devon Mclendon who drove the lane, but his layup fell short.  Livingstone rebounded the ball, and Darius Cox was fouled by Johnson.  He hit both shots to give the Blue Bears the 61-58 final advantage. 

Mclendon had 24 points - 19 in the second half alone - to lead the Bears.  Johnson had 14 points and pulled in 11 rebounds for the double-double.  Raheem Smith had 11 points and led Shaw with four assists.

Aaron Wilson led the Blue Bears with 14 points and Jackson finished with ten.  Tyler Johnson led Livingstone with nine rebounds and Jackson had five assists.

On Monday, the Bears travel to Fayetteville State where they will take on the Broncos.  Tip is 5:30.  Shaw returns home Saturday, February 5 when they will host Johnson C. Smith at 8:00 p.m.

Photos:  Daryll Johnson (left) drives past a defender on his way to a double-double.  Devon Mclendon gets two of his 24 points in the second half against Livingstone.