CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – Johnson & Wales University jumped out to a 26-19 lead in Friday evening's game to open up the JCSU Tip-Off Classic. Livingstone College went on to take game one over the Wildcats of Johnson & Wales University, 105-61.
The Blue Bears improved to 2-3 in the season, while Johnson and Wales drops to 3-4.
Livingstone was led by freshman Omarion Broaderick with 17 points. Followed by Pharoah Lassiter and Jemez Herd Jr with 10 points.
Johnson and Wales Ethan Smith and Anthoney Ray paced their team with 13 points each. The Blue Bears went on an 8-0 run at the 16-minute mark, 10-2. The Wildcats answered with seven of their own, 10-9. Johnson and Wales took their first lead at the 14-minute mark with a three by Anthoney Ray. Pharoah Lassiter hit a jumper to give the Blue Bears back the lead, 17-16. A fast break and a good jumper by Nathan Meshida quickly put the Wildcats back up, 18-17.
With 10:10 left in the first half, the Wildcats held a seven-point lead over the Blue Bears, 26-19. Donovan Leak had a fast break to the other end and laid it up to put the Blue Bears back up, 27-26.
A three-pointer by Teon Tiller would give the Blue Bears an eight-point advantage over the Wildcats.
Jayden Street completed two good free throws to put the Blue Bears up by 10, 45-35. Livingstone extended their lead by 12 right before the half, 50-38.
Sila Tako hit a three to start the second half, extending the Blue Bears' lead by 15. It was all Blue Bears for the first five minutes of the second half. The Wildcats struggled to complete a basket, allowing the Blue Bears to hold a 25-point lead at the 15-minute mark, 63-38.
Pharoah Lassiter extended Livingstone's lead by 30 with a layup in the paint with 10:37 to go, 79-49. Omarion Broderick had a fast break and dunked it in to add to the Blue Bears, 87-51.
Erron Stoute gave the Blue Bears their 100th point of the game with a layup in the paint, 101-58.
Livingstone would end the game shooting 55.8% (43-of-77). Johnson & Wales would make 17-of-20 overall for 28.3 percent. The Wildcats shot 76.7% from the free-throw line (23-out of-30). The Blue Bears went 73.7% from the free-throw line 14-of-19.
Livingstone outrebounded Johnson & Wales, 55-31.
The Blue Bears will take on Morris College on day two of the JCSU Tip-Classic Saturday, November 26. The first tip is set for 2:00 p.m.
