It was a back-and-forth affair in the first half.  Jason Coleman was on fire in the half scoring 10 points on five-of-10 shooting including two-of-two from three-point range.  Bobby Ewing kept the Pioneers close hitting five-of-six three-pointers.  With the score tied at 33-33, Shaw used timely baskets and good defense to make 9-2 run.  Shaw forced Tusculum into one-of-three shooting and one turnover during the one minute, 42 second stretch.  While the Pioneers made 14-of-29 field goals the Bears forced 11 first half turnovers in taking a 42-37 halftime lead.

Shaw (2-8) took its biggest lead of the game 59-47 on a lay-up by Nate Aaron with 14:44 remaining in he game.  But Tusculum went on a 10-0 run capped off by Douglas Tshomba’s three-pointer with 12:20 remaining that cut the Bears lead to 62-60.  Two three-pointers by Larry McCullers extended the Bear lead to 68-60.  Ewing kept the Pioneers in the game with two three-pointers of his own cutting the score to 68-66 with 9:36 remaining.  Tshomba’s three-pointer with 8:00 remaining gave the Pioneers the lead 71-68.  The Bears eventually regained the lead but went down 78-76 on a three-point play by Greg McIntosh with 1:20 remaining.  McCullers’ three-pointer rolled out then went back in as the Bears regained the lead 79-78 with 1:00 remaining.  Two free throws by Brad Hawks gave the Pioneers 80-79.  With 37 seconds remaining Rosebud’s put back proved to be the difference giving the Bears the 81-80 lead.  

McCullers finished with a team high 17 points for the Bears.  Nate Aaron had 13 points while Terrance Christian and Coleman had 12 points a-piece.  Ewing led five Pioneers who scored in double figures with 21 points.

Shaw will take on host Lenoir-Rhyne tomorrow at 7:00 p.m.