Men's Basketball Tripped Up By Salem State On The Road, 54-49

Salem, MA --- Salem State freshman Drew Healey (Lowell, MA) poured in 12 points and senior Hamed Akanni (Fitchburg, MA) added 11 as they both helped pace the Vikings to a 54-49 victory over Worcester State in MASCAC men's basketball action this afternoon at the Twohig Gymnasium.

With the win, Salem State improves to 11-10 and 3-5 in the MASCAC as the Lancers dip to 5-16 and 2-6 in the seven-team league circuit.

Sophomore Paul Brooks (Arlington, MA) led the Lancers with 14 points, nine rebounds and three blocks while senior Charles Gunter (Boston, MA/New Mission) tallied 10 points, five steals and three boards.

Brooks now has 66 rejections on the season as he reset a 12-year standard for blocks in one campaign that had previously been held by Ted Mulvagh (2002-03).

With the Blue and Gold nursing the 42-33 margin with 11:43 on the clock in the second period, the Vikings chipped away at the deficit went on a 17-7 spurt and took over the 50-49 advantage with 3:17 left in the second half.

Instrumental in the run was Akanni who netted eight points while senior Bryan Ortiz (Salem, MA) had a trifecta in the outburst.

Worcester State had a golden opportunity to answer the call on their next series, but missed three consecutive baskets, which included a lay-up by sophomore Marquez McKreith-Collins (Springfield, MA/Cathedral) in front of the net.

Healy converted tip-in with 1:18 on the scoreboard to put the Vikings up 52-49 and Hodges potted a pair at the charity stripe in the waning moments of regulation for what proved to be the final score.

Overall the Blue and Gold were unsuccessful on their last 10 tries from the field in the final four minutes of regulation and coughed up the ball with under 30 seconds to play in a five-point contest.

Salem State led 11-6 early in the contest before Worcester State embarked on a 17-6 surge capped off by a trifecta by sophomore Ryan DiBernardo (Springfield, MA/Cathedral) to put the Lancers up 23-17 with 6:41 left in the opening stanza.

SSU senior Jon Perez (Weymouth, MA) responded with a trey of his own and classmate Tariq Tate (Walpole, MA) helped tie up the score at 23-23 with just over four minutes remaining, but the Lancers closed out the frame with a 10-2 skein for the 33-25 margin at the intermission.

Gunter and Brooks combined for eight-points in the run for Worcester State.

The visitors continued to lead by two or more possessions for much of the second period until the Vikings defense locked Worcester State's offense down in the final 10 minutes of regulation to rally for the come-from-behind win.  

The Lancers shot 33 percent for the game (20-for-60) and was limited to a meager 19 percent alone in the second stanza (6-for-31) by Salem State. WSU also canned five of their 14 bids from downtown (36 percent) and led in offensive boards 14-8.

Meanwhile on the other hand, the hosts connected for nearly half of their shots overall (22-for-48 – 46 percent), but only drilled 54 percent from the line (7-for-13). Salem State edged their opponents in the paint (30-28) and in points off of turnovers (15-12) while also dominating bench scoring (27-4).

SSU outscored Worcester State 29-16 in the second period and rebounds were even (34-34).

Both squads continue their respective conference slates this Tuesday. The Lancers entertain Bridgewater State at Assumption in an 8 PM meeting while Salem State plays host to Westfield State in a 7:30 tip-off.