Salem State Holds Off Framingham State 88-81

Framingham, Mass. – Hakeem Animashaun (Dedham, Mass.) went 14-of-20 from the floor and finished with a double-double of 38 points and 11 rebounds as Salem State used a 9-0 second half run to defeat Framingham State 88-81 this afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action at the Athletic Center. Animmashaun recorded his 19th double-double of the season, which now ties the mark for most in the country. The Vikings move to 5-19 and 4-7 in the MASCAC. The Rams go to 2-21 and 1-9 in the league.

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.

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.

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.