BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University men's basketball team posted a 77-70 victory over visiting Salem State University in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action on Senior Night at the Tinsley Center.
The Bears, who wrapped up regular season play, improve to 17-7 on the season and 9-2 in the MASCAC, while the Vikings slip to 12-12 overall and 4-7 in conference action. Bridgewater State swept the regular season series against their longtime rival for the first time in 32 years (1982-83).
BSU senior forward Michael Lofton (Mansfield, Mass.) notched his seventh straight double-double and 13th of the season as he led all players with 22 points and 14 rebounds. Lofton, who was 10-for-15 from the floor, also added a game-high six assists to go along with a block and two steals.
Senior forward Kyle Gibson (Franklin, Mass.) added 20 points on 7 of 9 shooting for Bears. Gibson also corralled seven boards and recorded a pair of steals. Senior guard Barrett Murphy (Marshfield, Mass.) chipped in with 19 points, six rebounds and two blocks.
Senior guard Hamed Akanni (Fitchburg, Mass.) paced the Vikings with 17 points and five rebounds, while freshman forward Drew Healy (Lowell, Mass.) finished with double-double totals of 14 points and 12 boards as well as three blocks and a pair of steals. Senior guard Bryan Ortiz (Salem, Mass.) rounded out the visitors double digit scorers as he tallied 16 points to go along with five assists. Ortiz was a perfect 10-for-10 at the free throw line.
The first half was closely contested with six ties and four lead changes with neither team leading by more than six points. The Bears would take a 35-33 lead into the intermission following a Murphy lay-up with 14 seconds left in the stanza.
The Bears slowly built a 13-point lead (58-45) over the first ten ½ minutes of the second half, limiting the Vikings to just 12 points including only three field goals during that stretch.
Salem was unable to get any closer than seven points until the final minute of play when Ortiz knocked down a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to 73-67 with 57 seconds remaining. Following two missed free throws, the Vikings had a chance to make it a two possession game, but turned the ball over. The Bears would convert 4 of 6 free throws in the final 34 seconds to secure the win.
Bridgewater shot 54% (29-54) for the game including a sizzling 60% (25-42) from inside the arc. The Bears did struggle at the charity stripe converting just 60% (15-25) of their free throw attempts. BSU held a 42-32 advantage in points in the paint as well as a slight 17-16 edge in points off turnovers.
The Vikings connected on just 37% (23-62) of their field goal attempts, but did go 21-for-28 (75%) from the line. Salem outrebounded the Bears on the offensive glass, 14-9, which translated into a 16-11 difference in second chance points.
The Bears have a first round bye in next week's MASCAC Tournament and will host a semifinal round game on Thursday versus an opponent to be determined. The Vikings close out the regular season at home against MCLA on Saturday afternoon at three.
Notes: With his 22 points, Lofton moved into ninth place on the Bears' all-time scoring list as he now has 1,438 points in his career.