[Valdosta, GA] - An early game ten-point run and a double-digit lead late in the second half nearly wasn't enough as Shaw held off a persistent Valdosta State squad in the headline game at the first day of the Loop Pizza Grill Classic on the campus of Valdosta State.

With the win, the Bears improve to 5-2 on the season, while the Blazers drop to 4-4.

The Bears led by 11 with 5:57 left in the game but the Blazers battled back, cutting the lead to two with seconds left to play, but Shaw hit key free throw shots to keep the game just out of reach.

The Bears hit only 69 percent of their free throws on the game, but in the second half they hit 14 of 18 (77.8 percent).  And in the final minute of the game, the Bears hit five of six free throws to keep the game just out of the reach of VSU.

Valdosta State came out of the gate hot, scoring the first five points of the game in 90 seconds.  Shaw answered by scoring ten straight and taking a 10-5 lead on a layup from Jamin Shumate.

The Bears would not trail the rest of the game, but the Blazers made it close on more than one occasion. 

VSU cut the Shaw lead to one six times in the first half.  With 2:05 left in the first, Chris Rozier hit a jumper for Valdosta State that cut the Shaw lead to 25-24.  After a number of turnovers and missed shots, it looked like the 25-24 tally would be the halftime score until Devon Mclendon launched a half-court shot as the buzzer sounded to give Shaw the 28-24 lead at the half.

In the first half, the Bears pounded the ball inside, and struggled from the perimeter,  including hitting only two of six three-point shots they attempted.  They also slowed the game down, often not shooting until the waning ticks of the shot clock.

After scoring only 28 in the first, the Bears would speed it up and launch the ball, scoring 52 in the second.  The Bears hit four of the five three pointers they attempted and sank a number of long jumpers for two as well.

Shaw scored the first five points of the half, but the Blazers fought back, cutting the Shaw lead to five, 36-31, with 16:32 left in the game.

The Bears then scored eight straight, closing with Latrail McCoy's tip in to give them a 44-31 lead.  Shaw would stretch that lead to as many as 15 before the Blazers began their climb back into the game.

With 9:47 left on the clock, McCoy hit a pair of free throws to give the Bears a 57-43 lead, but the Blazers immediately ran off seven straight points, cutting the Shaw lead to seven with 7:48 left on the clock.

Shaw would again stretch the lead to double digits when Derrick Hunter sank a layup to give the Bears a 64-53 lead, but that was the last lead of ten or more.

With 57 seconds left on the clock, McCoy hit one of two free throws to give the Bears a 74-65 lead, but VSU would score the next seven points, trimming the Shaw lead to only two when Mike Holloway sank a three from the left corner. 

Alvin would find Junius Chaney alone under the basket when the Blazer defense swarmed around the ball, inching the lead back to four, but Chaney would then foul, giving Valdosta's Sidney Harris the chance to cut the Shaw lead to two when he made a pair of free throws.

Mohammed Abdur-Rahim then had his turn at the foul line for Shaw, sinking both and rebuilding the lead to two.  And after a pair of free throws from VSU, Malik Alvin iced the win with two clutch free throws with eight seconds on the clock, ending the game with the 80-76 win.

Four Bears scored in double figures, led by Alvin (left) with 22.  McCoy (right) had 14 points, Adbur-Rahim 12 and Chaney 11.  Chaney led both teams in rebounds with nine. 

The Blazers were led by Tristan Steele with 14, Michael Panaggio with 13, and Drew Maynard and Harris with 11 apiece.  Maynard had eight rebounds to lead VSU and Harris led both squads with five assists.

The Bears conclude their southern road trip tomorrow when they face Columbus State in the Loop Pizza Grill Classic at 4:00 p.m.