SALEM, Mass.  – Senior Nate Simpson (Lowell, Mass.) had a team-high 18 points and an outstanding game-high 24 rebound to lead the Salem State University Vikings to an 93-83 win over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in the final game of the Salem State Holiday Classic Sunday afternoon at the O'Keefe Center in Salem, Mass.

         The win is the third straight for the Vikings who improve to 7-4 overall.  Southern Maine drops its third straight game to dip to 6-5 overall.

         Simpson was 6-for-16 from the field and 6-for-7 from the free throw line to lead four Vikings in double-figures and grabbed seven offensive boards within his game-high total to lead the Vikings to a 56-39 edge on the glass. Senior Justin Nieves (Lawrence, Mass.) added 17 points, sophomore Brian Ortiz (Salem, Mass.) tossed in 16 and senior Tavone Wynder (Boston, Mass./Newton South) added 10 points, six rebounds and a team-high three assists.

         Southern Maine junior Conor Sullivan (Scarborough, Maine) led all scorers with 21 points on an 8-for-14 effort from the floor. Sullivan added a team-high seven rebounds and had four steals.  Senior Alex Kee (Bath, Maine/Morse) tossed in 15 points, six rebounds and a game-high five assists while junior James Odneal (Pontiac, Mich.) added 12 points.  Freshman guard Cole Libby (Buxton, Maine/Bonny Eagle) added 12 points off of the bench.

         In a closely contested game, the Vikings held a narrow 56-54 lead over the Huskies following a jumper from Libby. However, Ortiz responded to Libby's jumper with a three-pointer to spur a pivotal 12-0 run to give his team a 65-54 lead with eight minutes remaining. The Vikings retained a double-digit lead until the Huskies' Sullivan scored six points as part of an 8-0 USM run to pull the Huskies ot within a possession, 77-75, with two minutes left.

         Forced to put the Vikings on the line, Salem State protected its lead making 10 of 12 free throws down the stretch to hold off the advancing Huskies for its third straight win.

         Southern Maine hosts University of New England on Wednesday (7:30 p.m.).  Salem State hosts Endicott College on Wednesday (7:30 p.m.).

–cac–