Box Score GORHAM, Maine - Senior Nicholas Grassa (Lynn, Mass.) scored 21 points on 5-for-11 shooting from three-point range to lead four players in double figures as the Salem State University Vikings defeating University of Southern Maine Huskies 88-74 in a non-conference men's basketball game Tuesday night at Hill Gymnasium.
With the win, the Vikings earn their second straight victory to improve to 8-5. Southern Maine falls to 3-9 with the loss.
Grassa was 8-for-14 overall with four assists and a pair of steals as the Vikings shot an outstanding 40.0 percent (12-for-30) from three-point range and 49.2 percent (31-for-63) from the field. Seniors Bryan Ortiz (Salem, Mass.) and Jon Perez (Weymouth, Mass.) each had 16 points for Salem State, while junior Anthony Hodges (Worcester, Mass./Holy Name) tossed in 12 points. Sophomore Marcus Faison (Cambridge, Mass./Cambridge Rindge & Latin) led the Vikings in rebounding with 12 and chipped in with eight points off of the bench.
Southern Maine junior Jacob Littlefield (Mechanic Falls, Maine/Poland) had another strong night for the Huskies offensively, leading the game with 23 points on 9-for-13 shooting. Junior guard Cole Libby (Buxton, Maine/Bonny Eagle) added 12 points, five rebounds, six assists and a steal and classmate Jalen Lincoln (Nobleboro, Maine/Lincoln Academy) added 10 points and three assists on 4-for-6 shooting from the field.
After Libby converted a traditional three-point play to make it a four-point USM deficit 28-24 with 6:16 remaining in the opening half, the Vikings outscored the Huskies 19-9 to take a 47-33 lead at the break. Hodges scored 10 of his 12 points in the run including a pair of three-pointers.
Salem State increased its margin to 18 points, 56-38, in the opening three minutes of the second half outscoring Southern Maine 12-5. The Vikings looked on their way to blowing open the game before the Huskies' battled back with a 9-0 spurt to make it a 56-47 Vikings' lead with 13:57 to go. Littlefield found junior Ben Jackson (Houston, Texas/Bellaire) in the paint for two and Libby finished a touchdown pass from Lincoln following a Littlefield steal for a quick four-point swing, before Littlefield connected for five straight points on a three and a jumper as the Huskies made it a three-possession game. The Vikings responded however with five straight points of their own including a timely three from Grassa to regain momentum and a double-digit lead at 61-47 with 11;54 on the clock.
Salem State remained in control and led by as many as 17 points, 74-57, with 6:57 on the clock before the Huskies again tried to rally. After another Grassa three made it 74-57, Southern Maine scored eight straight to make it a 74-65 deficit. With the momentum swinging in the Huskies' favor, Grassa canned fifth three of the game for the dagger, making it 77-65 in favor of the Vikings with 4:36 to play. Both teams traded baskets in the final minutes for the 88-74 final.
Southern Maine returns to action on Saturday (3:00 p.m.) when it hosts UMass Dartmouth in a Little East Conference game. Salem State travels to Fitchburg State on Thursday (8:30 p.m.) for its next contest.
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