MENS BASKETBALL FALLS AT BRANDEIS
Waltham, Mass — Alex Santos (Lawrence, Mass.) scored 17 points as four Salem State players reached double figures, but #2 Babson prevailed 82-73 in the opening game of the New England Big 4 Challenge on Friday night at Red Auerbach Arena on the campus of Brandeis University.
Salem State (4-3) twice built an 11-point first half lead, the second time on a jumper by Santos that put the Vikings on top 39-28 with 4:27 remaining. However, the Beavers (8-0) closed the half on an 11-3 spurt to pull within 42-39 at the break. Salem State shot 18-37 (48.6%) from the field as Santos led all players with 15 points while Marcus Faison (Cambridge, Mass.) added 10 first-half points.
Babson outscored the Vikings 16-5 to open the second half to take a 55-46. Salem State closed the gap to seven, 57-50 with 7:55 remaining on a jumper by Tyreik McCauley (Worcester, Mass.), but the Beavers responded with a 9-0 run to push their advantage to 66-54 with 5:52 remaining.
Faison recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while classmate Shaquan Murray (Boston, Mass.) contributed 15 points. Sean Bryan (Lowell, Mass.) added 13 points and six rebounds.
The Beavers’ Charlie Rice (Barnstable, Mass.) recorded a double-double with 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting to go with a game-high 11 rebounds. Isaiah Nelsen (North Andover, Mass.) scored 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting and junior Nick Comenale (New York Mills, N.Y.) added 23 points.
Salem State will face host Brandeis in the consolation game at 2:00 PM tomorrow. Tufts defeated Brandeis 74-72 and will face Babson in the championship.
WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY TOPS ST. MICHAELS
SALEM — Madison Black’s (North Allegheny, PA) score in the second period was the only goal of the game as Salem State defeated the St. Michael’s Purple Knights 1-0 at Rockett Arena on Friday evening. Katherine Crane (Arlington, Mass.) stopped all 33 shots as Salem State improved to 2-5 on the season. St. Michael’s slips to 0-9.
Black’s goal came on an assist from freshman Amanda Giles (Merrimack, NH) at the 14:38 mark of the second period. Purple Knights goalie Abby Burke (Bedford, MA) played well in goal despite the loss as she saved 31-of-32 shots, most at close range keeping St. Michael’s within striking distance.
Despite being shut out, the Puprle Knights edged Salem State in shots by one, 33-32 while the Vikings won 36 of 56 faceoff attempts.
The Vikings don’t play again until December 10th when they play in Rindge, NH against the Franklin Pierce Ravens at 2:00PM. The Purple Knights are back in action tomorrow at 5:00PM at Endicott.
