Jan. 17, 2012

Final Stats

ELIZABETH CITY, NC-Shaw University placed three players in double figures as the Bears topped Elizabeth City State University 83-74 in overtime Monday night at the RL Vaughan Center.

The hot shooting Bears finished the game at an impressive 56%. They were 69% from the floor in the opening half behind 17 first half points by Malik Alvin who was a perfect 6-6 shooting, including 5 three-pointers.

Even with Shaw's impressive offense, the Vikings held their own in the opening stanza shooting 50% from the field. ECSU trailed 43-40 at the intermission.

The second half was nip/tuck the entire way with five ties and six lead changes. Neither team led by more than five points With 1:03 left in regulation, a layup by Alvin put the Bears up 72-67. Omar Jones countered with a 3-pointer and then a steal by Angelo Sharpless led to the tying basket by Paul Goldsmith with 32 seconds left. Shaw's final two attempts fell short in the waning seconds of regulation, sending the game to an extra five minutes.

Karon Johnson broke the 72 all tie at the 4:37 mark of overtime and put the Bears ahead by five (77-72) with a dunk and a free throw with 2:15 left. During that same span the Vikings got three shots at the basket but came up empty on each possession.

ECSU' fourth trip on offense resulted in a turnover and the Bears capitalized with another score, this time a dunk by Junius Chaney to put Shaw up 79-72 with 1:07 to go.

The Vikings only score came on a layup by Sharpless with 52 ticks left. Overall the Vikings went 1-7 in the final five minutes while the Bears (13-2, CIAA 5-0) finished 4-6 from the floor.

Sharpless finished with 20 points for the Vikings while Alvin topped all scorers with 25 points.

ECSU (8-7, CIAA 2-3) will hit the road to take on Saint Augustine's College on Thursday, January 19. Game time is scheduled for 7:30pm. Visit www.ecsuvikings.com and follow us on Twitter @ECSUVikings.