WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The Shaw University men's basketball team (9-9, 4-4 CIAA) endured its second CIAA Southern Division loss on Wednesday night, narrowly falling at Winston-Salem State University (11-5, 4-3 CIAA) by a final score of 74-69. 

Shaw would trail by as many as nine points in the second half, but would battle back to pull within five before the end of the contest.

Larry Richardson led the way for the Bears on Wednesday evening with 18 points (game high). Koron Reed joined him in double figures with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Joe Reid chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds during the game against Winston-Salem State.

"When we came back I thought that defense was good and we were poised in it. Offensively whether it was a fast break or a half court, I thought we were really poised," said head coach Cleo Hill Jr. "Once we got the lead or tied the game the poise just left."

Winston-Salem's Donta Harper paced the Rams with 17 points, while teammates CJ Ford (14 points) and Marquez Jones (13 points) also scored in double figures.

The Rams outscored the Bears by a 38-32 margin in the second half, and despite trailing for the most part of the second half, would end the game within five points.

The Bears will be back in action when they host cross-town rival Saint Augustine's University Saturday January 24, 2015 at 4 pm.

Saturday's game has also been designated as the Suits and Sneakers game to raise awareness for the Coaches vs. Cancer initiative by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.