(RALEIGH, NC)-  It took two overtimes and 14 free throw attempts in the two overtimes alone, but Shaw finally defeated cross-town rival Saint Augustine's 85-84 in front of a packed house at C. C. Spaulding Gymnasium.

Shaw (18-8, 11-6 CIAA) had last second chances to win the game in both the second half and first overtime, but both rimmed out - much to the frustration of the highly partisan sell-out crowd.  Saint Augustine's (9-17, 7-10 CIAA) sank a three just as the buzzer sounded to end the second overtime, but it was one point too little.

In the end, Shaw won the game at the free throw line, hitting ten of 14 attempts in the overtime periods combined, and sinking seven of 10 in the last two minutes of the second overtime.

Three of the five Shaw seniors honored on Senior Night scored in double figures, and two other underclassmen joined the double-digit party as well.  Four Falcons scored in double digits.

The game was close from the opening tip.   The largest leads for each team – six points for Shaw and five points for SAC – came in the first half.  The score was tied 17 times.  In the second half, Shaw managed to build a five-point lead with only 3:20 remaining, but the Falcons scored five unanswered to re-tie the score at 64 with 1:25 left in the game.

Neither team managed to score the rest of the way with both teams missing attempts at threes.  Devon Mclendon's last-second attempt for Shaw fell just short, sending the game into overtime.

Shaw started the first overtime quickly, getting a three from Dwight Bell and a tip-in followed by a free throw from Mclendon to give Shaw the 70-64 lead. 

Joel Kindred, Nick Chamblee and Jeremy Banks all hit shots in under two minutes to tie the score at 70.  Dwight Bell got the rebound of his own missed shot and tipped it in to give the Bears a lead that they held for only 11 seconds, when Shaun Washum hit a pair of free throws with seven seconds left.

Tony Smith took the inbounds pass and dribbled the length of the floor, drove for the layup, but missed as the buzzer sounded, sending the game into the second overtime.

A Bell free throw opened the scoring in the second extra period, then the teams exchanged buckets until Raheem Smith not only scored, but was fouled, leading to the old-fashioned three-point play that gave Shaw the 78-76 lead with 2:45 left in the second overtime.  Mclendon extended the lead to four with a pair of free throws less than a minute later.

Washum had an old-fashioned three of his own to again cut the Shaw lead to one.  Raheem Smith hit a pair of free throws to stretch the lead to three and when Saint Augustine's turned over the ball, they began fouling to stop the clock. 

The Bears were only three of six in the closing 30 seconds, but it was enough.  With four seconds left, Mclendon hit one of two free throw attempts to make the lead 85-81.  The Falcons' Joel Kindred launched a three as the buzzer sounded and sank it, to make the final score 85-84.

Shaw seniors Raheem Smith with 20, Bell with 16 and Darryl Johnson with ten celebrated their senior night with double digits.  Mclendon finished the game with 17 and Tony Smith had 15.  Mclendon had seven rebounds to lead the Bears while Raheem Smith paced Shaw with six assists.  With his fifth point, Raheem Smith hit the 1,200 mark in his career with Shaw.

Washum led Saint Augustine's in points (27), rebounds (ten) and assists (four).  Three other Falcons scored in double digits: Joel Kindred finished with 14 and Chamblee and Banks had 11 points apiece. 

Both teams next play in the CIAA Tournament beginning Wednesday, March 2.  Shaw, who finishes as the second seed in the south, will take on Lincoln, who they beat in their lone meeting earlier this year.  Saint Augustine's finishes as the sixth seed in the south and will face the north's third seed, Elizabeth City State.  Final pairings and times will be announced by the CIAA Sunday morning.