CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Raheem Smith scored 28 points including two free throws with 2.3 seconds left in the game to give Shaw a 72-69 win over Livingstone Saturday for its second CIAA men's championship in school history.Victory wasn't assured until a desperation three-pointer by Livingstone misfired, setting off a celebration inside Time Warner Cable Arena. Smith was named Tournament MVP, and he joined the Bears' Tony Smith and Devon Mclendon on the All-Tournament team. They led the Bears (22-8 overall), the No. 2 Southern Division seed, to victory over a game Livingstone squad making its first CIAA finals appearance.
Charlotte Observer Photos: Championship games
"I can't say enough about this team," Shaw Head Coach Cleo Hill, Jr. said. "I'm proud of them and we fought throughout this tournament."
Mclendon added 19 points and 14 rebounds and Tony Smith scored 11 points for the Bears, who shot 52 percent from the floor including 54 percent in the second half. Livingstone, who put Darius Cox and Greg Henry on the All-Tournament team, shot 46 percent for the game including 50 percent in the second half, to make the game close.
The win gave Shaw a sweep of the men's and women's tournaments, which is a first for the private Raleigh, N.C., school. Hill, Jr., claimed his first crown in only his third season as head coach after being an assistant coach on the 2001-02 team which won the CIAA Tournament with former NBA player Ronald "Flip" Murray, who was the NCAA Division II player of the year for the Bears at the time.
Videographer: Cwallace281; Shaw University Choir joins Wake Forest Baptist Church in Wake Forest North Carolina, featuring soloist Brandi Hancock. Song: Lord Make Me An Instrument
Blue Bears Fall 72-69 to Shaw in CIAA Championship
CHARLOTTE, NC – The Livingstone men’s basketball team fell in its bid to win the 2011 CIAA Championship Saturday, falling in its first-ever title game, 72-69 to the Shaw University Bears at Time Warner Cable Arena.
Livingstone finishes its 2010-2011 campaign with a 17-12 overall record.
The Blue Bears were led by game MVP and All-Tournament Team selection Darius Cox who finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Fellow All-Tournament Team selection Greg Henry finished with 10 points and six boards. Also in double figures was Nasir Austin with 11 points and Carl Boswell who added 10 points.
Mush as they had all tournament, the Blue Bears jumped out to an early lead on Saturday. Livingstone led 12-5 with 13:42 left in the first half, but a 14-4 run by Shaw gave the Bears a 19-16 edge with 8:58 remaining in the opening half. Towards the end of the first half the Blue Bears stayed close and went into the break only down two, 32-30.
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By Livingstone College and Shaw University Media Relations
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