Box Score RALEIGH, N.C. – Guard Raheem Jolliffe (Sr./Fayetteville, NC) scored 15 points for Saint Augustine's University, but frigid shooting hurt the Falcons in a 52-41 CIAA men's basketball loss to crosstown rival Shaw University on the Harvey D. Heartley, Sr. Court at Emery Gymnasium on Saturday, February 14, 2015. The Falcons dropped to 4-4 in the Southern Division and 11-13 overall. They are tied for third place in the division with Johnson C. Smith University with two games left in the regular season. The loss snapped a two-game win streak for the Falcons.
The Bears improved to 2-6 in the Southern Division and 11-13 overall. They are sixth in the Southern Division. Both teams split the season series.
The Bears shot 40 percent while the Falcons made 23 percent of their shots in the low-scoring affair. The Falcons set season lows for points, field goal percentage and field goals made (11) while tying a season-low for field goal attempts (48). The Bears' point total is a season-low for a Falcons' opponent.
Both teams struggled to make baskets in the second half. The Bears connected on 32 percent of their shots while the Falcons were 19 percent from the floor. They combined to hit 12 field goals in the second half.
"When you shoot 23 percent for the game and 19 percent in the second half, it's hard to win any game," Falcons' Head Coach MarQus Johnson said. "Give Shaw credit for its defense. We just have to regroup and turn our focus to Livingstone." The Bears shot 48 percent in the first half to open a 23-15 halftime lead. Larry Richardson, who led the Bears with 20 points, drained back-to-back three-pointers with under a minute to help the Bears pull away from a two-point first-half lead.
Their lead grew to 31-15 as the Falcons failed to score in the first seven-plus minutes of the second half. Guard Tayron Gibson (Sr./Alexandria, VA), who led the Falcons with a career-high 11 rebounds, ended the drought with a three-pointer at the 12:35 mark. Gibson's trey started an 11-0 Falcons' run which pulled them within 31-26. Guard Keith Crawford (Jr./Richmond, VA) capped the run with a three-pointer with 9:50 remaining. The Bears pushed their lead back to double digits, but the Falcons closed within seven three times. The Falcons trailed 47-40 with 42 seconds left on two Jolliffe free throws. The Bears finished the contest with a 5-1 run to get the win.
Gaskins added seven points and forward Quincy January (Fr./Atlanta, GA) collected 10 rebounds for the Falcons. Joe Reid scored 14 points and Koron Reed added 11 points and 12 rebounds for the Bears. The Falcons will head to Salisbury, N.C., to visit Livingstone College on Wednesday, February 18. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
