ST. DAVID'S, Pa. – The Salisbury University erased a 15-point first-half deficit to bring the game within one point in the final moments of the game but the Eastern Eagles held off the Sea Gulls flurry, 73-72, in the 2021-22 season opener on Friday.

BOX SCORE

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The shooting was cold in the early goings and Eastern got out to an early 19-4 lead in the first seven minutes of the game.
• Salisbury started chipping away at the lead through the rest of the first half. Gary Briddell scored his 1,000th point with 9:16 left in the half on a layup to cut the lead to 12 points.
• Eastern got the lead back up to 15 points before Salisbury got out to a 19-9 run to bring the game to 35-32 in the final minute of the first half. The Sea Gulls shot 7-of-12 from the field during the run, including three from beyond the arc. A pair of Eastern free throws gave the Eagles a five-point lead, 37-32, heading to the halftime locker room.
• The Eagles extended their lead back to double digits in the second half before the Sea Gulls made another run to get back in the game. The Sea Gulls went on a 10-2 run to get back within two points, 60-58, bookended by a Johnny Fierstein lay-in and a block by Jordan Oates.
• The two teams went back-and-forth as Eastern was attempting to stifle the Salisbury comeback. Eastern got its lead back to five, 71-66, in the final 30 seconds of the game. A layup and two free throws by Briddell trimmed the lead down to 71-70 with six seconds to go.
• Needing a foul to get the ball back, Salisbury put Kaeshawn Ward on the line in the waning moments of the game. Ward hit both of his free throws to push the lead back three, 73-70. The Eagles returned the favor and put Briddell on the charity stripe. Briddell hit both free throws to get the lead back to one, 73-72.
• Salisbury fouled Sam Gallardo in the final second of the game. Gallardo missed both to give SU a chance to win. Fierstein's heave from three-quarters court was no good to allow Eastern to escape with the victory.

SALISBURY GAME NOTES

• Salisbury held the narrow edge in field-goal percentage over Eastern. The Sea Gulls shot 43.5 percent (27-62) from the field. The Eagles were 43.3 percent (29-67) shooting.
• The Sea Gulls knocked down eight three-pointers and was 10-of-12 (83.3 percent) from the free-throw line.
• Gary Briddell scored a game-high 30 points and became the 33rd member of SU's 1,000-point club. Briddell was 11-of-21 shooting, including 3-of-7 from three. Briddell also grabbed six rebounds, dished out six assists and stole the ball twice.
• Johnny Fierstein registered a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. He was a perfect 4-from-4 from the floor and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line.
• Jordan Oates also reached double figures with 10 points. He also reeled in seven boards.

EASTERN GAME NOTES

• Three players also reached double-digit points for the Eagles.
• Draig Cooley scored team-best 18 points off 7-of-12 shooting.
• Will Blet tallied 13 points with eight rebounds.
• Eastern won the battle on the glass with 42 rebounds compared to Salisbury's 35.

UP NEXT

• Salisbury will open the 2021 home schedule on Monday, Nov. 8 against the TCNJ Lions.
• Tipoff from the Maggs Physical Activities Center is set for 6 p.m.

Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with the New Jersey Athletic Conference for football and the Metropolitan Swimming and Diving Conference for men's and women's swimming. With over 500 student-athletes in 21 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, and dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on-and-off the field. The Sea Gulls have celebrated 22 team national championships, 24 individual national champions, 184 conference championships and 41 Academic All-Americans.

To learn more about the tradition of excellence with Sea Gull Athletics, visit www.SUSeaGulls.com or on social media @SUSeaGulls.