Bears Athletics - Smith's 28 Powers Shaw Over Lincoln

Raheem Smith’s 28 Powers Shaw in Comeback Win Over Lincoln 71-62

(Raleigh, NC) – Raheem Smith (left) scored 23 of his 28 points in the second half to help Shaw overcome an 11-point halftime deficit and defeat Lincoln (PA) 71-62. The Bears were down as much as 20 points in the first half, after allowing the Lions to dash to a 12-0 lead in the opening minutes of the game.

Shaw (6-4, 5-0 in the CIAA) also got double figures from Rodney Callwood with 16 and Michael Smith with ten. Together, the three scored 35 points in the second half, and the Bears held Lincoln (1-8) to only 24.

“I think we have the two best players in the conference in Raheem and Rodney,” said Shaw Head Coach Cleo Hill, Jr. “They just have to play like it. When they lead – which they did in the second half – we win.”

The Bears could do little right in the first half, and Lincoln appeared to make few mistakes of their own, and capitalize on most of Shaw’s errors.

“I think some of the players took Lincoln for granted based on their record. But this is not the kind of conference where you can do that. You’re going to get a team’s best shot every game,” said Hill.

In the opening six minutes, the Bears committed five turnovers, and allowed the Lions to build a 12-0 lead. Michael Smith finally broke the scoring drought, hitting a layup with 14:01 left in the first. The Bears went on a 7-1 scoring run, cutting the lead to four with 12:20 left in the half.

Over the next six minutes, the Bears committed another five turnovers, missed four field goals, and allowed the Lions to stretch their advantage to 20 points, 32-12.

Hill then called a time out. “I told them that this was the last time out I was going to call, that if they were going to get blown out by 50 in their own gym I was going to let it happen.”

With the large lead, the Lions slowed down the game, with the point guard often standing just over midcourt and dribbling while the shot clock ran down to single digits. The Bears took advantage of the strategy, holding the Lions to a single shot most possessions, and converting with a bucket or free throw at their end of the court.

With 1:37 left in the half, Raheem Smith hit a jumper to cut the Lion lead to eight. The Lions hit a bucket and a free throw to bring the halftime lead to 11, 38-27.

The Lions stretched the lead to 13 early in the second, but the Bears went on a scoring tear of their own, scoring 14 straight points to take a 49-46 lead with 10:03 left in the game. With 7:42 on the clock, Denzel Mooney hit a three for the Lions to cut the Shaw lead to two, but they never got closer.

With 2:04 left in the game, Michael Smith hit a layup – the last bucket either team scored as the two teams spent the rest of the game at the free throw line. In those closing minutes, Shaw was six for nine from the stripe, not allowing the Lions (who were four for seven over the same stretch) enough daylight to get back into the game.

Three Bears had seven rebounds to lead the team: Darryl Johnson, Eric Pitts, and Callwood. Michael Smith led the Bears with four assists.

Darren Clark led the Lions with 16 points, while Ladaye Johnson had 12. Eugene Smith led both teams in rebounds with ten.

The Bears next game is Monday, January 4 as they host Bowie State at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the game are half price ($5 for adults, $2.50 for children).

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