Box Score SALEM, Mass. – Senior guard Andrew White (Medford, Mass.) had 11 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Salem State University Vikings to a 70-63 victory over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in a non-conference men's basketball game (5-5) Saturday afternoon at Twohig Gymnasium.
Securing its second straight game, Salem State improves to 6-4. The loss drops the Huskies to an even 5-5 on the season.
Junior guard Bryan Ortiz (Salem, Mass.) led the Vikings offense in the first half leading the way with eight points, five of which came from the free throw line. The Vikings led by 11, 26-15, with 3:45 to play in the first half, before a three from USM junior guard Kyle Pluchino (Coral Springs, Fla.) brought the Huskies to within eight, 26-18, on their next possession. However, the Vikings countered with a 10-2 run to close out the half to grab a 36-20 halftime lead.
The Vikings stayed hot in the second half and junior guard Hamed Akanni (Fitchburg, Mass.) gave the Vikings their largest lead of the night - 23 points - with a fastbreak lay-up with 15:15 to play. However, Southern Maine later cut the deficit to 11 with just over 11 minutes remaining behind the play of senior forward Tyler Penney (Barnstead, N.H./Bishop Brady) and sophomore guard Darius Bradford (Rosenberg, Texas). Penney scored six points and Bradford added five as the Huskies outscored the Vikings 14-2 over a four-minute period to trail 53-42 with 11:16 to play.
Salem State responded however with a 7-0 run to take an 60-42 lead with 9:49 on the clock. The Vikings kept the Huskies at a comfortable distance and led by 10 with 4:20 on the clock before USM made its final push of the game. Trailing 64-54, USM pulled to within two possessions, trailing by five points with :19 remaining, but Salem State converted its free throws to prevent a Southern Maine comeback, securing a 70-63 victory.
Penney finished with a game-high 25 points and seven rebounds for Southern Maine. Bradford was the only other Husky in double-figures with a career-high 11 points.
Southern Maine returns to action on Sunday, December 29 (8:00 p.m.) when it takes on St. John Fisher at the Woodcliff Hotel & Spa Tournament. Salem State hosts Bates on the same date (6:00 p.m.).
–cac–
