JCSU Men's Basketball Triumphs Over Livingstone, 89-81

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- The Johnson C. Smith University men's basketball team limited visiting Livingstone to just 31.4%% shooting in the second half while getting 24 points and 14 rebounds from senior Diondre Pratt en route to an 89-81 CIAA Southern Division win on Monday night at Brayboy Gym.

Pratt, a Morven, N.C. native, went 9-of-19 from the field including a 6-of 8 mark from the free throw line against the Blue Bears.  He also dished five assists and had two steals on the night.  Teammates Stedmon Lemon (Lithonia, Ga.) and Alandre Davis (Florence, S.C.) also eclipsed the 20 point mark with Lemon registering 23 points and Davis chipping in 22.

Lemon finished 6-of-8 from the free throw line and was 7-of 11 from the field, including a 3-of-6 mark from long range in the win.  Davis was perfect from the line (8-of-8) and was 7-of-10 from the field.  Sophomore Robert Davis (West Friendship, Md.) also had a productive night, scoring eight points while dishing nine assists.

After being tied at 40-40 at halftime, JCSU quickly built and eight point lead at 52-44 after Pratt knocked down a jumper with 13:13 left.  The Blue Bears would eventually tie the game at 60-60 with 6:32 to play when Daryl Trynham knocked down two free throws after forcing a JCSU turnover.

JCSU would respond by building a nine point lead at 75-66 after a free throw from Lemon with 3:12 to play.  The Blue Bears would trim the lead to six points on two occasions down the stretch, with the latter coming after Eric Dubose converted a layup with 59 seconds to play.  JCSU would then go on to make
4-of-5 free throws down the stretch and added an exclamation point when Lemon broke away for a highlight-reel dunk off the backboard that made it 89-77.  A tip in from Livingstone's Nasir Austin and a layup at the buzzer from Trynham provided the 89-81 final.

The win improves JCSU to 10-8 overall, 5-4 in CIAA play and 3-0 in the Southern Division while Livingstone falls to 8-12, 3-5 in CIAA play and 1-2 in Divisional play.

The Golden Bulls will hit the road for their next game, travelling to Winston-Salem State on Wednesday for a Southern Divisional battle with the Rams.  Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Gaines Center.

COURTESY JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS