Second Half Run Propels Salem State Past Men's Basketball 88-81
Framingham, Mass. – The Salem State University men's basketball team used a 9-0 second half run to take the lead for good as the Vikings defeated Framingham State 88-81 in a back and forth affair this afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action at the Athletic Center.
THE BASICS:
- Score: Salem State 88, Framingham State 81
- Records: Framingham State (2-21, 1-9 MASCAC), Salem State (5-19, 4-7 MASCAC)
- Location: Athletic Center – Framingham, Mass.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- The Rams saw four players score double figures in the contest led by a career-high 25 points from freshman John Kalton (Somerville, Mass.). Kalton connected on 9-of-16 from the floor including 6-of-13 from behind the arc.
- Senior Tyri Hampton (Fitchburg, Mass.) tallied a double double for the Rams with 24 points and 13 rebounds to go along with an assist and five steals.
- Junior Cameren McCloud-Thomas (Springfield, Mass.) chipped in with 16 points and six rebounds, while sophomore Tajahn Joyner (Amherst, Mass.) added 10 points and seven assists.
- The Vikings were led by a game-high 38 points from senior Hakeem Animashaun (Dedham, Mass.). Animashaun connected on 14-of-20 from the floor and finished the double double with 11 rebounds.
- Junior Alex De La Rosa (Boston, Mass.) chipped in with 15 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals, while freshman Jaden Castillo (Lawrence, Mass.) finished with 14 on 5-of-7 from the floor.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The game was back and forth in the first half with the score tied seven times and the lead changing hands four times.
- The Rams led 8-7 just about four minutes into the game after a three point play from Hampton, but Salem quickly retied the game and the two teams traded buckets.
- The Rams led 19-18, but Salem used an 8-0 run capped by four points from De La Rosa to take a 26-19 lead.
- The Rams chipped away at the lead cutting it to one on a pair of Jared Gordon-Anderson (Framingham, Mass.) free throws with 2:41 left in the half before Salem headed to the half leading 40-36.
- The second half mirrored the first with four ties and six lead changes before the Vikings used a 9-0 run to take the lead for good. A Joyner layup put the Rams on top 57-56 with 12:18 on the clock. A three point play from Animashaun put the Vikings on top for good on the ensuing possession and started the 9-0 spurt.
- The Vikings led by as many as 14 with just over three minutes to go in the half. The Rams closed the gap to seven on a Hampton layup with 2:23 on the clock, but would get no closer down the stretch as the Vikings hung on for the victory.
UP NEXT:
The Rams are back in action next Wednesday when they host Bridgewater State on Senior Night at 8 p.m., while the Vikings close the regular season at home on Wednesday against Westfield State at 7 p.m.