RALEIGH, NC -- The cold shooting Rams could not overcome the turnover bug, and fell to the Livingstone College Blue Bears, 83-65 Monday night in the CE Gaines Center.

This marks the first time that WSSU has lost back to back home games since rejoining the CIAA.

Winston-Salem State struggled offensively at times, and went stretches without scoring, allowing Livingstone to go on extended runs throughout the night.

With the loss WSSU falls to 17-6 overall, 9-4 in the CIAA and 3-4 in the Southern Division.  Livingstone College improves to 7-14 overall, 3-10 in the CIAA and 2-5 in the Southern Division.  There is now a four way tie for second place in the CIAA's Southern Division, as the Rams along with Johnson C. Smith, Saint Augustine's and Fayetteville State all have identical 3-4 Division records. 

The Livingstone Blue Bears got off to a hot start, taking an early 10-4 lead, before Winston-Salem State would answer with a 7-0 run to take its first lead of the game at 11-10 with 14:16 left in the first half. 

Livingstone would go back up on top 16-11, taking advantage of early Ram miscues, only to have WSSU right the ship, and fight back to tie the game at 16-16 with 10:30 left in the first half.

But right when WSSU thought they had settled down and gained control of the half, the Blue Bears started heating up from outside, connecting on four three pointers during a 16-4 run to take a 32-20 lead.

Winston-Salem State would not be outdone, finishing the first half on 12-3 run over the final minutes.  Kimani Hunt had a good look at a 3-pt shot right before the half, but it rimmed out, as the Rams went into the locker room at halftime trailing 35-32.

The Rams came out of the locker room on fire, and with its defensive intensity picked up, forced the Blue Bears into turnovers and WSSU scored the first six points of the half to take a 38-35 lead before a Livingstone timeout.

Both teams would begin to trade baskets, and for a while neither team would be able to pull away.  The two schools, less than 45 minutes apart, would alternate with the lead, before the Blue Bears would take control with a 8-2 run.

WSSU would once again fight back, but another LC run, couple with solid free throw shooting down the stretch (10 of 12), enabled Livingstone to put the game out of reach.

Justin Glover led the Rams with 19 points and pulling down five rebounds.  WyKevin Bazemore picked up his sixth double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds.  Joseph Thompson added eight points.  Nequan Melvin and Wakefield Ellison each added five points and three rebounds,  while Marcus Wells chipped in three points and a game high tying 10 rebounds.

For Livingstone, Nasir Austin scored a game high 23 points and Mark Thomas added 12 points.  Omar Ford-Bey finished with 11 points and Greg Henry pulled down 10 rebounds.

The WSSU Rams will host Johnson C. Smith University in a must win game on Saturday night in the CE Gaines Center.  Tipoff is scheduled for approximately 7:30 PM.