SALISBURY – The Livingstone men's basketball team defeated Claflin University in overtime in New Trent Gymnasium, 96-95.

The Blue Bears improve to (8-7, 4-2) in the season, while Claflin University drops to (12-3, 4-2). 

Livingstone was led by Khyree Temple with 23 points each. Pharoah Lassiter followed with 17 points. Detionne Leach finished with a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Omarion Broderick missed a double-double by one rebound. Broderick recorded 10 points and nine rebounds. 

Claflin University was paced by Jailen Williams with a double-double, recording 25 points and 10 rebounds. points. Allen Hatchett followed with 22 points. Timothy McElroy finished with a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Shamarie McLead had 12 points and Bryson Dennis had 11 points.

Livingstone jumped out with a seven-point lead at the 12-minute mark with a layup by Pharoah Lassiter, 19-12. The Panthers took the lead at the six-minute mark with a layup by Jailen Williams, 29-28. 

An old fashion three by Khyree Temple tied the game up at 31 with 5:28 left in the game. The Blue Bears took a 13-point lead at the two-minute mark with a layup by Pharoah Lassiter, 44-31. Jailen Williams completed a layup right before the half to cut the Blue Bears' lead to nine at halftime, 47-38. 

The Blue Bears held another double-digit lead over the Panthers at the 12-minute mark with a three-pointer by Pharoah Lassiter, 58-47. 

The Panthers cut the Blue Bears' lead to three with a layup by Timothy McElroy, 60-57. The Blue Bears went up by nine with 4:37 left in the second half, 72-63. Claflin cut Livingstone's lead to two with 1:42 left in regulation with a jumper by Shamarie McLead, 79-77. A last-minute jumper by Jailen Williams tied the game up with :05 left in the second half, sending the game to overtime, 84-84. 

The Blue Bears and the Panthers were tied at 88 with 2:29 to go into overtime. The Blue Bears to a three-point lead with an old fashion three by Arion Broadnax, 91-88. The Blue Bears and the Panthers were tied again with :13 left with a layup by Allen Hatchett, 94-94. The Panthers took a 95-94 lead with a good free throw by Hatchett. Khyree Temple went down to the other end and completed a layup to give the Blue Bears the win, 95-96. 

Livingstone would end the game shooting 48.6% (36-of-74). Claflin would make 34 of 74- overall for 45.9 percent. 

The Panthers shot 69.7% from the free-throw line (23 out of 33). The Blue Bears went 56.7% from the free-throw line 17-of-30.

Livingstone outrebounded Claflin, 47-44.

The Blue Bears will travel to Fayetteville State University Wednesday, January 18. The first tip is set for 7:30 p.m.