The Livingstone College's men's basketball team gave the Shaw University Bears their first conference loss 76-70. The last time Shaw lost a conference game was in 2011. The Blue Bears had three players to score double figures.
Mark Thomas led the Blue Bears with 17 points.

Both teams played a very close first half with the score being tied six times. Livingstone protected the ball very well and with their defensive pressure, forced the Shaw Bears to commit seven turnovers to their two. The Blue Bears led by as much as seven points at the 12:08 minute mark. Livingstone took the first half 37-34.  

The second half was like a mirror to the first half in regards to how close the game was played.

Jody Hill tied the score 60-60 at the 5:26 minute mark with a fast break dunk down the lane. Hill finished with 13 points and five rebounds.

Tyler Johnson hit back-to-back shots with less than four minutes left in the game. Shaw responded with five unanswered points. The Shaw Bears led 67-64 at the 3:21 mark.

Hill's fast break layup gave the Blue Bears a 71-70 lead with less than a minute left to play in the game. Shaw answered with a turnover and a foul to put Thomas on the line. Thomas made both shots. Trailing by three points, the Shaw Bears head coach called his last timeout.

The Blue Bears maintained their defensive pressure to hold on for the win over Shaw.

Eladio Espinoza finished with 11 points and nine rebounds.

The win improves the Blue Bears record to 13-3 overall and 5-2 in the conference. Shaw drops to 12-5 overall and 6-1.

The Blue Bears will return to action, January 23 against Fayetteville State University in Salisbury, North Carolina. Game time is slated for 7:30 p.m.