(Ettrick, VA) – Shaw men's basketball team held Virginia State to less than 30 percent shooting from the field to fuel a 65-51 Bear victory.

Shaw (9-2, 2-0 CIAA) did not fire on all cylinders offensively themselves, hitting only 37 percent on the game – on 10 for 27 shooting each half.  Virginia State (1-11, 0-4 CIAA) hit only 15 of the 52 shots they took on the game. 

The Trojans held the lead for much of the first half, and with 10:45 left in the first, VSU's Mike Bynum hit a three that gave them a 13-6 lead over Shaw.  Tony Smith immediately came down court and answered with a three for Shaw, sparking a 9-2 run that tied the score at 15 with 8:53 left in the half.

The two teams battled evenly for much of the rest of the half.  As late as 1:38 left, the two teams were tied, but Shaw scored five unanswered points to end the half with a 30-25 lead.

Virginia State opened the second half with a 6-0 scoring run, taking the 31-30 lead on a three-pointer by Justin Bess.  Raheem Smith, on two successive possessions, hit a layup, was fouled and converted the free throw for a pair of old-fashioned three pointers to give the Bears a five-point lead and start what would become a 12-0 run – with Smith scoring ten of those points.  With 13:49 left in the game, the Bears held a 42-31 lead.

Over the next two minutes, the Bears extended the lead to 17, 50-33, but the Trojans did not give up.   VSU slowly chipped away at the lead until, with 1:30 left, Davon Charity hit a free throw shot to cut the Bear lead to single digits.  

The Trojans then had to foul in order to stop the clock, allowing the Bears to close out the game on a 7-2 run for the 65-51 final.

Raheem Smith led Shaw with 24 points, while Tony Smith had ten.  Tony Smith had eight assists to lead the Bears and Darryl Johnson led both teams with 14 rebounds.

Bess was the only Trojan to score in double figures, and D'Angelo Johnson had six rebounds to pace VSU.

The Bears continue their three-game road trip on Monday as they take on Virginia Union at 7:30 p.m.  They next play at home on Saturday, January 15, when they host Chowan.  Tip is at 8:00 p.m.

Photos: Michael Smith (left) had ten points and led the Bears in assists while Raheem Smith (right) led all players with 24 points.