Box Score BLUEFIELD, W. Va. – After coming up short in the home opener against Virginia Union University, the Shaw University men's basketball team got their first win of the season against Bluefield State College with a 64-60 victory on Monday night.
Shaw (1-3) held a 19-6 advantage in bench points, while shooting 47 percent from behind the arc and would finish the game shooting 48 percent from the field compared to the Bluefield State's (1-4) 37.9 percent.
Junior Larry Richardson, II (Garner, NC) led the Bears offense with 19 points, after knocking down 5-of-7 attempts from the 3-point line. Senior Jamar Cooper (Petersburg, VA) provided 13 points, while junior Akeem Echols (Baltimore, MD) chipped in 11 points, four assists and four rebounds.
The first half featured a tight battle between both teams as the lead changed nine times. BSC scored first on a layup by Aaron Williams but a 3-pointer by Richardson, II gave the Bears an early 3-2 lead. SU would orchestrate a 9-point lead after a layup by Cooper down the stretch before going into halftime with a 31-27 lead over the Big Blues.
As the second half got underway, the Bears continued to extend their lead and sustain control of the game. They managed to build a 13 point lead – their largest of the game when Richardson, II drained another 3-pointer with 8:26 showing on the game clock.
BSC would rally back with a 11-2 run and take the lead 53-52 with 3:22 remaining in the game but a Echols' 3-pointer would give the Bears the lead again and for good as Shaw held a two-point lead for the remainder of the game.
Joshua Williams led the Big Blues with a game-high 22 points and seven rebounds, while Avery Holliday tallied 11 points and seven rebounds as well.
The Bears will return to action on Friday, Nov. 28th for a contest against Augusta University in Augusta, Ga. Tip is set for 4 p.m.
For the most up-to-date information on Shaw University men's basketball and its 11 varsity sport teams, please visit shawbears.com.
