Final Stats

SALISBURY, NC – The Livingstone men's basketball team lost a heartbreaking 73-72 contest to the Limestone College Saints Saturday evening inside New Trent Gym.

The loss for the Blue Bears, who led by as much as 20 points in the first half, was their first of the season and prevented Livingstone from reaching its first 4-0 start in program history.

Livingstone came out very strong in the first half.  Despite Limestone leading early in the first three minutes, the Blue Bears reached a nine-point lead with 13:45 left in the first half.  The Blue Bears increased their lead to double digits with just less than 12 minutes on the clock and then went on a 13-3 run to give themselves their biggest lead of the game of 20 points with 8:44 remaining.

With just over two minutes remaining in the half, the Saints got within eight and with one of their nine threes for the game with 1:06 left in the half cut the Blue Bear lead to only five points at the break, 40-35.

To start the second half, the Blue Bears got their lead back to nine points just over one minute in and held their lead solidly through the first 10 minutes of the second half.  With 8:08 remaining in the contest, Limestone took its first lead since 17:05 of the first half. 

The Saints increased their lead to as much as seven points with 4:47 left in the contest.  The Blue Bears responded with an 8-0 run to take a 70-69 lead with 2:24 remaining.  After Limestone hit two free throws to go up one, Trone Jackson gave the Blue Bears a one-point edge with 38 seconds left.  The Saints again hit two free throws with 24 seconds remaining to go back up by one, setting up an opportunity for the Blue Bears to win at the buzzer.

Livingstone brought the ball up the court and took a timeout to set up one final play.  Greg Henry passed the ball in to Jackson who drove to the basket with about eight seconds left.  Jackson got under the basket and tried to dish the ball to Tyler Johnson who was in the lane, but Johnson was unable to control the ball, ending Livingstone's chance to win the game.

Four Blue Bears scored in double figures, led by Nasir Austin, Omar Ford-Bey and Drew Thomas who each scored 12 points.  Tyler Johnson also scored 10 points.

Livingstone will return to action on Sunday, December 11 at 4 p.m. when they head to Elkin, WV to face Davis & Elkins.