BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Junior guard Tyrese Rho (Boston, Mass.) poured in a game-high 29 points to lead the visiting Salem State University men's basketball team to a 102-79 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) victory over Bridgewater State University on Wednesday evening at the Tinsley Center. The game marked the MASCAC opener for both teams.
The visiting Vikings improve to 4-10 (1-0 MASCAC) on the season while the Bears fall to 5-8 (0-1 MASCAC) overall. Salem holds a 96-39 advantage in the all-time series. Bridgewater had won each of the last four meetings prior to tonight's game.
Rho connected on 10 of 12 field goal attempts and went 9-for-11 at the free throw line. He added five assists and four steals.
The Vikings also received 22 points, seven assists and three steals from sophomore guard Nicholas Martinez (Revere, Mass.) as well as 17 points, five assists and three steals from senior guard LJ Hicks (Gardner, Mass.). Sophomore guard Omri Merryman (Lynn, Mass.) checked in 15 points and four rebounds, and graduate forward Liam Byrne (Melrose, Mass.) notched nine points, eight rebounds (three offensive), three assists and four steals.
Junior guard Dante Kikuba (Framingham, Mass.) paced Bridgewater State with 16 points, six rebounds (two offensive) and seven assists. Junior forward Steven Morrell (Rochester, Mass.) added 14 points and seven board for the Bears including six offensive boards, while junior forward Louis Jennings (Walpole, Mass.) tallied 12 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Graduate guard Noah Downing (Brockton, Mass.) contributed a season-high14 points to go along with five rebounds and four assists in 25 minutes off the bench.
Salem led 52-40 at the break as Rho, Martinez, Hicks and Merryman all in double figures in the opening stanza.
Bridgewater rallied over the first nine minutes of the second half and cut the deficit to five (71-66) following a three-pointer by Downing and a TJ Williams (Sr., Jupiter, Fla.) layup. The Bears had two chances to make it a one-possession game but were unable to convert.
After a Martinez layup was answered by a pair of free throws by Downing, the Vikings outscored the Bears 14-6 over the next 5 ½ minutes to pull ahead 87-74. Bridgewater would get no closer than ten the rest of the way as Salem pulled away for the decisive win.
The Vikings shot an impressive 66.7% (40-60) for the game and went 6-for-15 (40%) from behind the arc and 16-for-19 (84.2%) at the free throw line. Salem forced 18 turnovers and finished with a 58-32 edge in points in the paint as well as a 29-8 advantage in points off turnovers.
Bridgewater finished with shooting percentages of 42.2% (27-64) from the floor, 30% (6-20) from three-point range and 65.5% (19-29) at the charity stripe. The Bears outrebounded the Vikings on the offensive glass, 17-4, which led to a 13-1 edge in second chance points.
In upcoming action, the Bears travel to Framingham State University on Saturday for a noontime MASCAC game with the Rams. The Vikings are off until next Wednesday evening when they host Framingham at five o'clock.