RALEIGH, NC --DJ Thomas totaled 25 points and Justus Baldwin added 20 and the Shaw men's basketball team defeated the pesky Paine College Lions 93-92 at home Saturday.
Thomas and Baldwin's stellar scoring performances led the Bears (7-7) in the contest. Thomas tacked on eight rebounds, six assists, and seven steals. Amir Waddell also helped out with 17 points.
The Shaw offense was very productive from three point land, knocking down eight threes on 21 attempts. Waddell was the most prolific shooter for the Bears, draining three treys in the contest.
The Shaw defense was a problem in Saturday's game, forcing 17 turnovers. Those takeaways turned into 21 points on the other end of the floor. Thomas' seven steals led the way individually for the Bears.
How It Happened
After jumping out to a 34-32 advantage, Shaw went on a 7-0 run with 4:16 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Thomas, to increase its lead to 41-32. The Bears then lost some of that lead, but still entered halftime with a 45-42 advantage. Shaw did most of its first half damage in the paint, scoring 26 of its 45 points close to the basket.
Following intermission, Shaw kept widening that lead, expanding it to 69-56 before going on a 9-0 run, finished off by Caleb Simmons' jumper, to grow the lead to 78-56 with 9:51 to go in the contest. The Lions narrowed the margin down the to four before adding a three pointer at the final buzzer but the Bears still held on for the 93-92 win. Shaw took care of business in the paint, recording 26 of its 48 points in the lane.
Game Notes
» Shaw found success from three point land, knocking down eight treys in the game.
» Shaw never trailed in the second half on its way to victory.
» The Shaw bench came alive by scoring 35 points to its scoring output.
» Shaw had a 46-42 edge on the boards in the win.
» The Shaw defense forced 17 turnovers.
» Shaw cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 12 offensive boards in the game.
Up Next
The Bears return to C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium as they host the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls in a key CIAA cross division matchup. Game time is scheduled for 8 PM.
