SALEM, MA - The Wheelock College men's basketball team built a 12-point first-half lead against perennial regional power Salem State University on Sunday before falling in overtime, 78-72, at Twohig Gymnasium. The Wildcats slipped to 10-13, as nine of their losses have come by nine points or fewer. The Vikings, who have already clinched the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) regular-season title, rallied for their 12th straight win in moving to 16-6. Salem State's resume includes NCAA Tournament berths from 2007 to 2009, including a 2009 Sweet 16 appearance.

Wheelock junior Eric Rice (Woburn, MA/Woburn) went for a career-high 26 points while falling one rebound shy of notching his fourth double-double in five games, corralling nine boards to go along with three blocks. Classmate Max Kaim (Fort Lauderdale, FL/Cypress Bay) shot 7-of-7 on free-throw tries in collecting 15 points, eight rebounds and three steals for the Wildcats, who finished off a two-game weekend set. Senior Daniel Main (Hopedale, MA/Hopedale) added 13 points, and juniors Kyle Pierce (Burlington, MA/Burlington) and Victor Kashouh (Providence, RI/Classical) notched seven and four assists, respectively. Pierce pushed his season total to a program-record 90 helpers.

Junior Daniel Clark (Deerfield, MA/Frontier Regional) paced Salem State with 19 points off the bench behind 4-of-8 three-point shooting, while classmates Brian Clark (Deerfield, MA/Frontier Regional) and Tristian Shannon (Andover, MA/Andover) had 16 points apiece. Junior Apollos Wade (Taunton, MA/Taunton) had nine points, six rebounds and four assists.

Rice scored the game's first four points, and Main provided seven early points in helping Wheelock jet out to a 13-3 advantage just 5:09 into the contest. The hosts trimmed their deficit to five points before Rice went on a personal 5-0 run, canning a three to make it 24-12 at 9:19. A Main jumper provided a 26-14 margin, but Salem State scored 12 of the next 15 points. The teams traded late baskets, and the Wildcat lead held at 31-28 by intermission.

Brian Clark's hoop seven seconds into the final stanza made it a one-point game, but four different Wheelock players scored during an 8-0 response, with Kaim's bucket creating a 39-30 gap at 16:14. The visitors later saw a 54-47 wiped out behind a 9-0 Salem State jaunt, as Daniel Clark's three with 7:28 go to provided the Vikings with their first lead, 56-54, and the teams eventually played through five ties prior to the end of regulation. Pierce's freebie with 1:23 left gave the Wildcats a two-point edge, which Wade's bucket wiped out at the 58-second mark, forcing overtime.

During the extra session, two more Pierce free throws at 3:51 knotted the contest for the sixth and final time, as Shannon provided a basket 11 seconds later to spark a critical 6-0 run. Pierce knocked down two more from the charity stripe with 24 ticks left to bring Wheelock within four, but Wade countered with two freebies to ice the win.

The Wildcats continue on the road for a Tuesday New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) contest at Becker College, which has already clinched the NECC regular-season crown and is perfect through 12 league contests. The Hawks stand sixth in the NCAA's Northeast rankings and are receiving votes toward the D3hoops.com national poll. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.