RALEIGH, N.C. -  The Shaw University men's basketball team got 31 points from Andre Paulk to help overcome a 16-point Saint Augustine's lead, and lift the Bears past the Falcons 83-74 in a contest played Saturday afternoon at Shaw's C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium.

Paulk earned his 31 points on a 10 for 17 shooting night, including three of five from beyond the arc.  He also hit a strong eight of nine from the free throw line.

The win lifts Shaw to an 8-15 mark overall, 6-7 in the conference and 2-5 in the CIAA's Southern Division.  Saint Augustine's drops to 11-11, 4-9 in the CIAA and 1-6 in the division.

Both teams shot well, with the Falcons hitting half of their shots and the Bears making 48.3 percent of theirs.  The Bears had a solid advantage on the boards, pulling in 37 rebounds, compared to 27 for Saint Augustine's.  That advantage led to Shaw scoring 24 second-chance points, while Saint Aug had only 14.

The Falcons took an early lead, building a 13-6 advantage with 14:47 left in the first.  With 12:50 left, Jeffrey Legree hit a jumper to cut the Saint Aug lead to six, but the Falcons responded by scoring seven straight, building the lead to 13.

The Bears did not make any headway against the Falcon advantage, and trailed 35-19 with 4:15 left in the first. Shaw trimmed the lead by only one, going into halftime trailing 41-26.

Paulk, who scored 22 of his points in the second half, led the Bears back into the game. 

The Bears trimmed the lead to only ten a on a pair of free throws from Aquil Younger, then Paulk scored four straight to take the lead back under double digits, 48-42.

Saint Aug again stretched the lead to 11, but Chaz Thomas with four points and Paulk scored 12 as the Bears reeled off a 19-7 run to take a their first lead of the game at 61-60 on a three-point play from Paulk.

Tashaun Stockdale hit a free throw for the Falcons to tie the game, but Paulk stroked a three-pointer to give the Bears a 64-61 lead.  After a free throw from the Falcons, Paulk hit another three to give Shaw a five-point lead.

Larry Richardson hit a jumper with 4:51 left to give Shaw a 69-62 lead.

With 1:43 left, Koron Reed tipped in a missed jumper to give the Bears a nine-point lead.  It would be the last field goal for the Bears.  They were fouled and spent their time at the free throw line the rest of the contest, finally claiming the 83-74 win.

In addition to Paulk's 31, Thomas and Younger each had ten points and Younger led the Bears with eight assists.  Reed and Joe Reid had seven rebounds each to pace the Bears.

Four Falcons scored in double figures, led by Raheem Joliffe with 14 and Xavier Saddler-Mee with 13.  Jonathan Crawley had 12 and Amere May 11 for Saint Aug.  Crawley's six rebounds and May's six assists led the Falcons.

The Bears return to action Monday when they travel to Winston-Salem State to make up the game originally scheduled for last Wednesday.  Tip is 7:30 p.m.  Shaw closes out their home season Wednesday when they host Fayetteville State for Senior Night.  Tip is 8:00 p.m. at Shaw's C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium.