INSTITUTE, West Virginia – Livingstone College jumped out to a 14-9 lead in the first five minutes of Friday night's Earl Classic opener at Convocation Center but the West Virginia State University Yellowjackets overcame that disadvantage, 86-85.
The Blue Bears drop to 0-1 to start the season, while West Virginia State starts their season 1-0.
Livingstone was led in scoring by Detionne Leach who had 14 points in the contest while Paul Tako recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Levar Allen joined his teammates scoring 12 points in the night. Followed by Jemez Herd and Pharoah Lassiter with 11 points.
West Virginia State was paced by Taevon Horton and Dwaine Jones with 15 points each. Aboucar Cisse and Miguel Martinez both had 12 points and Samier Kinsler had 10.
Livingstone was able to get a point to open the scoring on its first possession after a missed jumper, Detionne Leach completed a layup in the paint. From there the scoring was back and forth. The Blue Bears and the Yellowjackets stuck to inside buckets early. Leach knocked down the first three-pointer of the night at the 16-minute mark.
The Blue Bears and the Yellowjackets traded leads. The Blue Bear defense would go on to keep the Yellowjackets scoreless for almost two minutes. Bunky Brown got a bucket to end the Yellowjackets' scoreless streak to make it 26-22 with 8:26 to go in the half.
Livingstone remained on top until West Virginia State tied it up at the three-minute mark, 37-37. Brown got a fast break and lay it up to give the Yellowjackets the lead, 39-37. The Blue Bears got the last bucket of the half with a layup by Leach but the Yellowjackets held on to the lead at the half, 42-41.
Livingstone made 18-of-35 field goals in the first half, including 4-of-9 from outside the arc.
West Virginia State stretched their lead at the start of the second half with a fast break by Samier Kinsler to complete a layup. After a missed three-pointer by the Yellowjackets and a rebound by Leach, Levar Allen put two in putting the Blue Bear ahead, 45-44.
After a trade of buckets, the Yellowjackets tied it up at 54-54 with 13:24 left in the half. A foul by Paul Tako sent Aboucar Cisse to complete a four-point play giving the Yellowjackets an eight-point lead, 68-60. After four minutes of trading buckets, the Blue Bears tied the game at 72-72.
Jemez Herd put two in giving the Blue Bears the lead, 74-73. The Blue Bears held an 81-78 lead over the Yellowjackets with 3:02 to go in the game. The Yellowjackets quickly cut the margin by one, 81-80.
With 1:55 to go in the game, Cisse hit a jumper to put the Yellowjackets back on top, 82-81. Allen drove to the paint to give the Blue Bears two more putting them up 85-84 with :27 left.
West Virginia State's Malik Whitaker was sent to the line to shoot two and put both in t give the Yellowjackets the lead with :05 left.
Livingstone would end the game shooting 53.8% (35-of-65). West Virginia State would make 27-of-67 overall for 40.3 percent. Livingstone outrebounded West Virginia State, 44-32.
The Blue Bears will face Davis and Elkins at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 12.
