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BEARS COME UP SHORT

Payne goes for 26 points!

SALISBURY, NC - It’s a hard knock life for fans of Blue Bear basketball. In front of a hyped crowd of LC faithful the Bears (6-13, 3-7 CIAA) pushed non-conference rival Barber-Scotia (17-6) to the brink.

With 11.7 seconds left in regulation and the game tied at 76-76, Barber-Scotia took the lead on a three-point shot from the top of the key by Maurice Madison. LC’s forward Cornelius Gordon missed a three-pointer that would have tied the game.

On the ensuing Barber-Scotia rebound Gordon was able to steal the ball away with a little under 4 seconds remaining. Gordon went down the left side of the floor and hoisted another three-point attempt from just about the same spot. The result of the shot was the same, no good. Game over. Barber-Scotia wins 79-76.

Despite a one game suspension of All-CIAA forward Rodney Gidney, due to the violation of team rules, the Bears received good production from their other leading scorers.

Junior guard Sheldon Payne stepped up his play by scorching the nets for 26 points. The Philadelphia, PA native broke out of a shooting slump by hitting 9 of 12 field goals and was 5 for 7 from beyond the arc.

LC forwards Nigel Black and Cornelius Gordon added 15 and 14 points respectively, and the CIAA’s leader in steals, Willie Rouse, added 7 points, 6 assists, and 3 steals.

Steve Sarratt led the Sabres with 19 points, while Tim Hargett added 18 points. Mikael Woodbury helped Barber-Scotia outrebound the Bears 41-32 on the glass. Woodbury finished with a double-double by scoring 11 points and grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds.

The Bears next opponent will be a double-header against the Vikings of Elizabeth City State University on Tuesday, February 8^th. The Lady Blue Bears will play at 5:30 p.m., and the Bears will play at 7:30 p.m. in New Trent Gym.