RALEIGH, N.C. – Quayshun Hawkins scored a season-high 29 points to help rally the Benedict College Tigers to an 82-73 victory over Livingstone College in the Shaw University Basketball Classic on Thursday night.

The Tigers improved to 5-5 on the season, while Livingstone falls to 2-8.

Benedict trailed by as many as 16 points on two occasions in the second half, the final time 59-43 with 12:53 left to play. Livingstone had a 13-point lead, 64-51, with 10:12 remaining when the Tigers scored six straight points to cut the lead to 64-57 with 9:05 left to play. Benedict outscored Livingstone 23-6 over the final eight minutes of the game to rally for the victory.

A 3-pointer by Hawkins gave Benedict its first lead in the second half, 70-69, with 4:34 remaining. The Blue Bears cut the lead to 76-73 with 1:09 left, but the Tigers scored the final six points of the contest to seal the win.

Jaylin Gilbert added 18 points for the Tigers, while Christopher Spencer added 12 points and grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds.

Benedict starts the New Year with a SIAC conference meeting at Miles College on Monday.