Salisbury, NC – It all comes down to free throws as Livingstone College (7-5 overall, 4-2 CIAA) defended home court with an 81-77 overtime victory over Fayetteville State to improve to 2-0 in the CIAA Southern Division.
Fayetteville State (9-6 overall and 4-1 in the CIAA) trailed by one (68-69) with a minute left in regulation when Jalen Seegars was fouled with 17 seconds left. Seegars, who had the hot-hand all game with a game-high 27 points, missed both attempts at the line to finish 5-of-8.
The Blue Bears’ Deshone Hicks nailed both of his free throws after Cress Worthy picked up his third foul with 12 seconds on the clock.
Down by three, Worthy pulled from deep with a quick shot to tie the game at 71 with five ticks left on the clock.
In the overtime period, Koraan Clemonts scored his 15th point after a basket and a pair of free throws which gave Fayetteville State a 77-72 lead with 2:43 left.
Livingstone began to regroup following their leading scorer Navar Elmore’s dunk which gave him 23 points and closed the deficit to 77-74. That’s also when an unfortunate turn of events plagued the Broncos. After FSU a missed layup and offensive rebound, the Broncos lost the scoring opportunity with a turnover and then lost Worthy for the remainder of the game due to his fifth personal foul. Cress exited with a total of 14 points.
Hicks, who was attempting a three-pointer when fouled, made two of the three attempts to set the score at 77-76 with 1:33 left.
Another Bronco turnover led to a basket by Hicks, who finished with 13 points, and a one-point (78-77) lead for Livingstone.
Following two quick fouls by FSU, Hicks sealed the game with another pair of free throws for the victory.
The game played close in its entirety with a 35-35 score at halftime.
Fayetteville State shot 40% from the field, making 26-of-65 attempts, compared to the Blue Bears 49.1% (27-55). FSU was 7-of-20 (35%) from beyond the arc as LC only made 2-of-11 (18.2).
The game was won at the line for Livingstone made 25-of-34 free throw attempts for 73.5%. Fayetteville State was 18-of-25 (72%).
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