[Charlotte, NC] -  Malik Alvin had 36 points to power Shaw past Johnson C. Smith 95-76 Saturday night in a game at Brayboy Gymnasium.  With the win, Shaw claims sole possession of the lead in the CIAA's Southern Division.

The game, which matched not only the top two teams in the division, but also the two top scorers in the conference, was one-sided for almost the entire game, and Alvin's 36 points outpaced Trevin Parks' 21.

 With the win, Shaw extends its winning streak to 14 games and improves to 18-2, 10-0 in the CIAA and 4-0 in the division.  The loss drops JCSU to 10-10 overall, 5-5 in the conference and 3-1 in the division.

Shaw rode a hot shooting hand to the win, building a 28-point lead in the first half with 23 for 34 shooting (67.6 percent) compared to JCSU's 32.3 percent shooting in the first.  The positions were somewhat reversed in the second, with the Golden Bulls cutting into the Shaw lead on the back of a 16 for 28 shooting performance (57.1 percent) while Shaw hit only 14 of 30 from the field.

The two teams took different approaches to the game.  While Shaw battered the ball inside, the Golden Bulls tried to clear the perimeter for open long distance shots.  Shaw scored 54 points in the paint to only 24 for Johnson C. Smith.  At the same time, JCSU put up 24 three-point attempts, sinking half.  In contrast, the Bears put up only 12 from beyond the arc, hitting eight.

With 14:21 left in the first, Robert Williams hit a three to give JCSU a 10-9 lead.  The Bears responded by scoring 12 straight, taking an 11-point lead when Alvin hit a layup, was fouled, and hit the ensuing free throw. 

With 8:52 left in the first, James Otey hit a three to cut the Shaw lead to eight, 28-20.  Alvin started another scoring run - this one of 11 points.  With 4:53 left in the half, Alvin hit a layup on the fast break to build the lead to 39-20. With 24 seconds left in the half, Alvin would give the Bears their largest lead of the night, hitting a layup to bring the margin to 28 points, 53-25.

With 18:41 left in the game, Calvin Smith hit a jumper to cut the Shaw advantage to 19.  The Bears would build it back up to 26 points, but the Golden Bulls continued to chip away at the lead.

With 2:55 left, Parks hit a three pointer that trimmed the Shaw lead to 14 at 88-74, but the Bears responded with five straight points, and never let the Golden Bulls within 16 the rest of the way, finally finishing with the 95-76 win.

In addition to Alvin's 36, the Bears were led by Karron Johnson with 18 points and Tony Smith with 14.  Smith led Shaw in both assists and rebounds, with eight of each.

Parks had a team-high seven assists to go with his 21 points.  Otey and Antwan Wilkerson had 12 apiece and Delonta Boyd added another ten.  Wilkerson's 11 rebounds gave him a double-double on the evening.  

The Bears return to action Monday night when they travel to Salisbury, NC to take on Livingstone for a 7:30 tip.  They do not return home until Monday, February 13 when they host  at 6:00 p.m. at C. C. Spaulding Gymnasium on the Shaw campus.