Raleigh, NC – Shaw again found themselves on the wrong side of the game of runs as a late run from the Virginia Union University Panthers propelled them to an 83-78 victory of the Shaw University Bears Saturday afternoon inside C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium.

The Bears opened the contest on a 6-0 spurt with back-to-back threes from Justus Baldwin. Shaw's lead grew to 10-0 with two straight baskets from Michael Armstrong.  VUU battled back to trim the Shaw (11-11,7-9 CIAA) lead to 12-7 at the first media timeout. Three-pointers from Corey Rutherford and senior Brandon Faison put Shaw ahead 18-11.

VUU (21-6, 13-3 CIAA) wouldn't let the Bears pull away as they nipped at the Shaw lead trimming it to 21-17 with 9:32 remaining in the half. The score stayed close as the Bears lead slipped to just one 24-23 with 5:52 left before halftime. The Panthers tied the score at 28-28 just before the final media timeout on a steal and alley-oop. VUU pulled ahead 35-32 before both teams traded free throws sending Shaw to the locker room down 38-36.

The Bears got off to a slow start after the break as VUU broke open a 48-41 lead with 15:42 left to play. A three-point play from Denari Garrett made the score 49-46 in favor of the Panthers. Shaw would get as close as one before timely baskets from VUU extended their lead to 56-48 with 10:35 remaining. Shaw again battled to cut their deficit to four points before the Panthers responded with a run to go ahead 65-55 with 7:20 on the clock.

The Bears wouldn't go away as a Baldwin jumper made the score 65-61 with 6:11 left in regulation. Faison kept the comeback coming with another three with 3:32 left and the scoreboard reading 71-70. Garett gave the Bears a 72-71 lead with a pair of free throws with three minutes left. The lead changed hands again as VUU edged back in front 76-73 with 2:17 left. Both squads traded baskets, but the Bears came up empty after getting a turnover leading to free throws for VUU to put the Panther ahead 79-75 with 35.7 left. Garrett again made it a single-possession game with a three-point play with 9.4 remaining. Free throws from the Panthers iced the contest sending VUU to an 83-78 win.

Shaw will now await for their seeding in the 2022 CIAA Tournament held in Baltimore, MD.