The Bears smash the Braves 72-57 in Home Opener

Raleigh, NC – The Bears of Shaw University (2-6; 0-3 CIAA) took the stage in C.C. Spaulding during their home opener against the University of North Carolina – Pembroke (1-8).  The Bears were looking for a win as they faced the Braves coming off of a 0-6 run to start the season.

The Bears came out of the gate rolling against the Braves.  The Bears shot an outstanding 51.7% from the floor and 63.6% from behind the 3-point arc.  Damola Obadina (6’5, JR, Forward, Minneapolis, MN) did what he does for the Bears as he scored 11 points in the first half.  With some additions, Shaw was able to get their shooting game going. UNC-Pembroke on the other hand could not get things going in the first half shooting only 20.8% from the floor and 12.5%.  Darren Jefferies led the Braves with 5 points in the first half.   The Bears would go into the half with a 41-17 lead over the Braves.

The Bears would come out in the second half looking for ways to maintain their 24 point lead, but it was not going to be easy.  The Braves would come out in the second with one thing on their minds; a win.  Shaw shot 36% from the floor in the second half while the Braves shot 41%.  The Braves would cut the lead to as little as nine points before the Bears would get back into things in the second half.  The points were spread among all the players for the Bears in the second.  Jonathan Hart would step up for the Braves in the second as he scored 16 points and grabbed 8 rebounds.  It was just not good enough to catch up with the Bears.

In the end the Bears would never look back once they got the lead as they kept their composure and prevailed 72-57 over the Braves.  Shaw was led by Obadina who finished with 16 points and 7 rebounds and stepping up big was new comer Larry McCullers (6’4, JR, Guard, Fuquay-Varina, NC) who had 13 points and 5 rebounds in the Bears home opener win against the UNC-Pembroke Braves. Hart would lead the way for the Braves with 19 points and 9 rebounds.