SALISBURY – The Livingstone men's basketball team defeated St. Augustine's University Thursday evening in New Trent, 68-51.

The Blue Bears improve to (9-9, 5-4) in the season, while St. Augustine's University drops to (5-13, 2-8).  

Livingstone was led by Arion Broadnax with 13 points. Detionne Leach recorded ten rebounds. 

St. Augustine's University was paced by Jaylen Richard with 11 points. Christopher Hill followed with 10 points. Nemo Johnson finished with eight points and ten rebounds.

The Blue Bears took an 11-point lead at the four-minute mark with a jumper by Paul Tako, 31-21 Jaylen Richard finished a layup got the Falcons within five with 1:34 left in the first half, 31-26. Teon Tiller hit a jumper putting the the Blue Bears back up by nine with :45 left in the first half. A last minute layup by Nemo Johnson cut the Blue Bears lead to seven going into halftime, 35-28. 

Christopher Hill continued to cut the Blue Bears lead to begin the second half with a jumper, 35-30. The Blue Bears took a 12-point lead at the 15-minute mark, 44-32. The Falcons were back within six with another layup by Nemo Johnson, 47-41. 

The Blue Bears took a 23-point lead with 2:48 left in the second half. The last bucket of the night by Resean White cut the Blue Bears final lead to 17. 

Livingstone would end the game shooting 42.0% (24-of-56). St. Augustine's would make 21 of 53 overall for 39.6 percent. 

The Falcons shot 50.0% from the free-throw line (7 out of 14). The Blue Bears went 61.9% from the free-throw line 13-of-21.

Livingstone outrebounded St. Augustine's, 40-31.

The Blue Bears will host Winston-Salem State University Saturday, January 28. The first tip is set for 4:00 p.m.