Lancers Hold Off Vikings 80-67

SALEM, Mass. - Tyler Dion (Barre, Mass.) erupted for 31 points (FG 11-16, 3PT 5-6), four assists, and two steals to lead the Worcester State Lancers to an 80-67 win over the Salem State Vikings in MASCAC action from Twohig Gymnasium on Saturday. The Lancers rise to 7-8 on the season and 3-0 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC). Salem State's season record slides to 1-15 and 0-4 in the MASCAC.

Worcester State started the game on a 10-2 run, going 3-6 from the field as all five starters played a role in helping the Lancers get off to a fast start.

The Vikings closed the gap and after Hakeem Animashaun (Dedham, Mass.) blocked Cal Howes' (Maynard, Mass.) floater, Chris MacDonald (Wakefield, Mass.) hit a shot from behind the arc to pull the Vikings to within 19-17 with 10:57 to go in the first half.

Patrick Bugler's (Marblehead, Mass.) assist to MacDonald for his second three gave Salem State its first lead of the game, 27-25 with 5:51 left in the half.

Right before halftime, Eric Bjorn (Holden, Mass.) missed a layup, but Corey Olivier (Maynard, Mass.) got the putback layup to even the score at 32-all.

In the first half, Salem State shot 45.2% (FG 14-30) from the field while Worcester State was 44.8% (FG 13-29) from the floor.

Dion finished the half with 13 points (FG 4-8, 3PT 2-3) for the Lancers. Animashaun led the Vikings in points with 12 (FG 6-7) in addition to his seven boards.

Worcester State began to pull away in the third as Bjorn passed it to an open Chris Cardoso (Jamaica Plain, Mass.) from behind the arc, who drained a three to make it a 41-36 game.

Later, Worcester State went up by 10 points after Cardoso stripped MacDonald and was all alone on the fastbreak for an easy layup.

Dion's three on the fastbreak put the Lancers up 77-62 with 1:44 remaining in the game, ending any Vikings' comeback attempt.

For the game, Worcester State shot 47.3% (FG 26-55) from the field while Salem State shot 50% (FG 29-58) from the floor.

Cardoso helped the Lancers build a lead in the second half on both ends of the floor. He put up 23 points (FG 6-11, FT 9-9) four rebounds, three steals, and one block.

Animashaun had a double-double of 28 points (FG 13-16) and 12 rebounds while MacDonald scored 15 points (FG 6-15, 3PT 3-8) for the Vikings. Jaden Castillo (Lawrence, Mass.) had 12 points and four assists.