SALEM, MASS. – Salem State reached the 100-point plateau for the second time this season as the Vikings dispatched the Westfield State Owls 107-85 in a MASCAC matchup on Saturday afternoon. The Vikings were led by Shaquan Murray (Boston, Mass.) and Sean Bryan (Lowell, Mass.), who had 23 and 22 points respectively to lead five players in double-figures. Bryan also had a game-high 12 rebounds and five assists as Salem State had a season-high 21 assists while shooting 37-66 (56.1%) from the field, including 12-25 (48.0%) from behind the arc.

Westfield State was topped by Austin Joseph (Rockland, Mass.), who had 20 points while Peter Mafo (Lynn, Mass.) had 17 points. Moody Bey (Springfield, Mass.), Marcus Collins (Cambridge, Mass.) and Josh Pressley (Springfield, Mass.) all had 10 points apiece for the Owls, which shot 29-65 (44.6%) as a team.

The Owls and Vikings battled evenly over the first 10 minutes after Peter Mafo (Lynn, Mass.) opened the game with a three for Westfield State. A Jacob Lindland (Hamilton, Mass.) trey and put back by Alex Santos (Lawrence, Mass.) gave Salem State a 22-16 lead midway through the first half as the Vikings  went on a 9-0 run to pull ahead 26-16 after a Drew Healy (Lowell, Mass.) layup with 8:32 remaining. Three consecutive baskets by Westfield State drew the Owls to within four, but Healy and Santos sandwiched five points around a layup by Collins that pushed the advantage to seven points, 33-26 with 5:33 left. The Vikings' offense, which shot 20-33 (60.6%) in the first half, began to pull away, going on a 19-10 run to end the period. A Temitope Bailey (West Springfield, Mass.) bucket and foul shot gave Salem State a 43-30 advantage before Joseph, who had 11 points in the half, answered for the Owls. Murray and Bryan sandwiched three-pointers around a Joseph basket to help the Vikings build a 16-point halftime lead.

Healy and Santos, who went a combined 7-8 (87.5%) from the field, each had nine points for Salem State while Murray finished the half with eight. The Vikings did most of their damage in the paint scoring 30 points from close range. The Owls shot 15-34 (44.1%) for the half.

The second half saw 27 fouls called as the two teams combined for 59 free throws in the game. Murray and Bryan, who combined to shoot 9-13 (69.2%), including 5-6 (83.3%) from three-point range, each had 15 second half points, helping Salem State maintain a double-digit lead. A three-pointer pulled the Owls to within 64-54 with 14:05 left, but the Vikings quickly built the lead to 18 as Lindland, who had 10 points for the game, scored five straight points, including his second three, that increased the lead to 73-55 with just over 12 minutes remaining. A free throw by Santos gave Salem State its largest lead, 101-76 with 4:26 left as Westfield State could not get closer than 21 points the rest of the way.

Healy finished with 13 points, nine rebounds and four blocks while Santos chipped in with 12 points and six assists. Rayshaw Matthews (Boston, Mass.) had seven points and six assists. Salem State's bench outscored Westfield State's 44-26 for the game.