Salem, Mass.-- Bryan Ortiz (Salem, MA) scored 17 points and Drew Healy (Lowell, MA) added a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds  as Salem State used a  second half surge to come-from-behind to defeat visiting MCLA 88-78 on Saturday afternoon at Twohig Gymnasium. The Vikings clinched the fourth seed and a home game in the upcoming Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament, and will face a rematch with the No. 5 seeded Trailblazers on Tuesday at 7:00 PM. Salem State improves to 13-13, and 5-7 in conference while MCLA slips to 8-17, and 5-7 in the MASCAC.    

The Trailblazers opened up a 42-37 halftime lead behind the efforts of Khalil Paul (Troy, NY) and Paul Maurice (Mattapan, MA), who combined for 21 first-half points. Five points by Maurice and a three-pointer by Todd Hunt (Cambridge, NY), put the Trailblazers up 27-20 with 9:19 remaining in the first. Salem State drew to within four on back-to-back buckets by Healy and Nicholas Grassa (Lynn, MA) at 34-31, but consecutive three-pointers by Paul, including an and–one pushed the lead to 40-31 with under three minutes remaining. A dunk by Healy ignited the crowd as the home team seemed poised for a run, as Ortiz made two free throws to draw the Vikings to within three, but a layup by Adam Conquest (Gardner, MA) in the final minute gave MCLA some breathing room and a five–point margin heading into halftime. Grassa had 10 first half points for Salem State while Healy chipped in with six points and eight rebounds.  
 
Salem State methodically crept back into the game in the second half  as Ortiz scored four straight points to pull the Vikings to within one, 46-45  with 16:12 remaining. Despite a three-ball from Maurice, Healy ignited an 8-0 run, scoring six of the points himself as the Vikings rallied to take a 53-49 lead. Seven straight points by Marcus Faison (Cambridge, MA) pushed Salem State's lead to nine, 67-58 with 7:24 remaining. The Vikings, who shot a blistering 16-29 (55.2%) in the second half were ignited by Jon Perez (Weymouth, MA) who had ten second half points, and after consecutive three's by the senior, Salem State suddenly led 75-63 with under five minutes remaining. MCLA was held in check the rest of the way, never drawing closer than eight as Salem State hit nine of ten free throws in the stretch highlighted by Ortiz, who went 10-of-11 from the line to preserve the 88-78 victory.

Maurice finished with 23 points and seven rebounds for MCLA while Paul added 18 points and Conquest 10. Perez finished with 13 points for Salem State, and Grassa added 12 for the Vikings, who shot 30-60 (50%) for the game.

Seniors Hamed Akanni  (Fitchburg, MA), Nicholas Grassa (Lynn, MA), Jon Perez (Weymouth, MA), Chris Parenteau (Lancaster, MA), Bryan Ortiz (Salem, MA), and Tariq Tate(Walpole, MA) were honored before the game for their contributions to the basketball program.