The Livingstone College (15-5, 7-4) men's basketball team 75-72 upset win against the defending CIAA Champions, Winston-Salem State University, (16-4, 9-2) turned up the heat in Winston-Salem, NC on Saturday. Mark Thomas' free throws at the end of the game sealed the victory for the Blue Bears.
 
Jody Hill scored a game high 23 points as he went five-for-eight behind the three point line against the Rams.
 
Hill ignited the first half for the Blue Bears with three back-to-back three pointers. Along with Hill's prolific shooting, the Blue Bears shot 52 percent from the field compared to the Rams 46.4 percent.  Livingstone also saw success at the free throw line as they hit 13-of-16 shots (81.3 percent).       
Winston-Salem saw the free throw line eight times and only hit three of them.
 
Although the Blue Bears led by as much as 15 points in the second half, the Rams wouldn't give in and tied the score four times. Fifteen forced turnovers committed by the Rams are what edged the Blue Bears to victory. Livingstone scored 20 points off of the Rams slick hands. 
 
The Blue Bears had two other players to score double figures. Just one rebound shy of a double-double, Thomas paced the Blue Bears with his 20 points and nine rebounds. Omar Ford-Bey's superb shooting added 13 points to Livingstone's score. Ford-Bey went 100 percent from the free throw line, and behind the three.
 
The Rams were led by Justin Glover's 19 points.
 
The Blue Bears play again next Saturday when host Shaw University. Game time is 7:30 p.m.