Final Stats
SALISBURY, NC – The Livingstone men's basketball team dropped its final non-conference game of the season Thursday, 87-80 to the Davis & Elkins College Senators despite double-doubles from Greg Henry and Nasir Austin.
The entire contest Thursday was a game of runs. Davis & Elkins got the first run to go up 5-0, but Livingstone battled back to take an 8-7 lead. After the Blue Bears went up by as much as four, the Senators fought to gain a 26-19 edge with 7:38 left in the first half.
A 7-0 run by the Blue Bears brought the game into a 26-26 tie with 5:32 on the clock. Davis & Elkins responded with a 6-0 run to go up 35-29 and were able to hold a 37-35 lead going into halftime.
After the teams traded buckets for the first two minutes of the second half, the Senators were able to strike first. With the game tied 42-42, Davis & Elkins went on an 8-1 run to go up 50-43 with 15:36 left in the game.
Despite only being down seven, Livingstone had a hard time really getting back into the game. The Blue Bears were able to make small runs on the offensive side, but couldn't get the key defensive stop. Over the final 15 minutes of the game, the Blue Bears were only able to get as close as two points.
With just over three minutes left, Livingstone was finally able to get a few turnovers, but was bitten by the free-throw bug. Three straight times the Blue Bears got a turnover and were fouled, but only hit 1-of-2 attempts each time. With those misses, Davis & Elkins was able to do just enough to get the 87-80 victory.
Greg Henry and Nasir Austin each recorded double-doubles Thursday. Henry led the Blue Bears with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Austin's double-double, his second in two games, came with 19 points and 12 boards. Omar Ford-Bey also finished in double figures with 11 points.
The Blue Bears shot 33.8 percent from the floor, but connected on only 4-of-22 attempts from beyond the three-point arc. Livingstone shot 80 percent from the charity stripe, but missed crucial attempts late in the second half.
Livingstone will host its final home game of the season on Saturday when the St. Augustine's College Falcons come to New Trent Gym for a 7:30 p.m. contest. The Livingstone seniors, Greg Henry, Trone Jackson, Quintin Redfern, Cody Paul and Darrius Sellers will be honored between the women's and men's games.
