ETTRICK, Va. — Livingstone couldn’t handle Virginia State on the boards on Saturday, and the bottom line was an 87-79 loss to the Trojans.
Virginia State (10-3, 5-0) is playing as well as anyone in the CIAA, while Livingstone (7-8, 2-2) is still a work in progress.
Besides being outrebounded 47-31, Livingstone shot 2-for-14 on 3-pointers and capitalized on only 19 of 32 free-throw opportunities.
The contest was the CIAA Game of the Week and was televised by Aspire TV and Urban Sports and Entertainment.
Livingstone got 23 points from Ty Newman on 10-for-17 shooting. Eric Dubose shot 8-for-17 and scored 22.
But the Trojans offset Livingstone’s stars with superior balance. Virginia State put five men in double figures, led by guard Walter Williams’ 16 points.
Virginia State shot only 34.3 percent in the first half, and the game stayed tight. Livingstone guard Daryl Traynham was assessed a technical foul late in the first half. Virginia State took advantage to grab a 41-40 halftime lead.
Livingstone didn’t score in the first three minutes of the second half. That dry spell allowed Virginia State to push to a 47-40 lead.
With 8:45 left to play, the Trojans held their biggest lead of the day at 68-52.
Behind Dubose, Livingstone fought back. A layup by Traynham lifted the Blue Bears within 76-70 with 2:33 remaining, but Virginia State made free throws down the stretch and finished strong.
Livingstone continues a road swing against the CIAA’s Northern Division on Monday at Chowan.

Virginia State 87, Livingstone 79

LIVINGSTONE (79)
Newman 23, Dubose 22, Traynham 10, Holt 7, Austin 6, Wilson 5, Johnson 2, Harris 2, Belfield 2, Cole, Flint, Gray, Ayscue, Langley, Lowe.
VIRGINIA STATE (87)
W. Williams 16, Moore 15, K. Williams 14, Moore 12, Melvin 10, Gregory 4, Peterson 4, Wright 4, Bradshaw 4, Alers 4.

Livingstone 40 39 — 79
Virginia State 41 46 — 87