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Shaw Holds Strong Late To Defeat Rival SAU

Lawrence Davis III @LawDavis13 @SpecMagSports

RALEIGH, N.C.  — The Shaw University Bears used a couple of clutch defensive stops to hold off a late comeback by rival Saint Augustine’s University as the Bears defeated the Falcons 53-47 Wednesday night inside historic C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium.

SAU (4-17, 2-9 CIAA) jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead before Shaw (8-7, 4-5 CIAA) settled in to take a 6-5 lead with a basket from Michael Armstrong at the 14:55 media timeout. The Falcons tied the game at seven before Nakwan Kitchens drove and finished to give the Bears the 9-7 lead in the low-scoring affair. The Falcons took a 16-9 lead on a 9-0 run before Corey Rutherford ended the Bears drought with a deep three-pointer. Josue Kamba added another three from Brandon Faison to make the Shaw deficit just one 16-15.

Kamba gave the Bears the 20-18 lead with another three from the top of the key with 5:35 left before halftime. Leading by four with 2:35 left in the first half, the Bears added two more baskets to push their lead to 26-20 at halftime.

The Bears started the second half with a Kitchens putback dunk and Izeah Parker jumper just outside the paint to give the Bears a 30-21 lead with 16:05 left. Justus Baldwin answered with a 5-0 run to give Shaw a 35-25 lead after the Falcons sliced their deficit to five. Kitchens added a pair at the line to give Shaw a 42-31 lead with 10:22 remaining. A scoring drought allowed the Falcons to close in on the Shaw lead as the Bears led 44-35 with 6:25 left in regulation.

SAU wouldn’t go away as they trimmed the Shaw lead to 44-38 with 4:12 left before Simmons added a much-needed three-point play. Faison cashed in at the free-throw line with 2:21 remaining to give the Bears a 49-43 lead. SAU headed to the line with 38.9 left and made two free throws to make the score 49-47. The Bears ran their offense to perfection as Faison found Baldwin on a backdoor cut to give Shaw a 51-47 lead with 17.4 left. Baldwin sealed the game with a layup from a Simmons steal.

Shaw returns to action Saturday, February 5 as they travel to Elizabeth City State University for a 4 p.m. tipoff.

 

(Courtesy of Shaw University Athletics)