Vikings Fall at Home to Bears

SALEM, Mass. --  Salem State men's basketball looked to get back in the win column tonight when they hosted the Bears of Bridgewater State University for a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) bout. After 40 minutes of action, the Bears secured the 85-67 victory, dropping the Vikings to 3-5 in MASCAC play.

Conner Byrne (Melrose, Mass.) was a bright spot for the Vikings, notching a double-double with 18 points and 15 rebounds. Chris MacDonald (Wakefield, Mass.) and Jaden Castillo (Lawrence, Mass.) chipped in with 17 and 13 points, respectively, in the effort.

Emerson Halbleib (Carmel, Ind.) spearheaded the Bears with 19 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double, while Dante Kikuba (Framingham, Mass.) had an all- around game with 15 points, seven helpers, and six rebounds in the win.

How it Happened:

• After exchanging baskets to start the game, both teams found themselves at an 11-point stalemate just four minutes into action, it was not till a Bear three-pointer at the 14:34 mark that any team gained a slight advantage (16-11).
• The Bears found themselves ahead by as many as 14 before a 7-0 run by the Vikings cut their lead in half (40-33) with 4:08 to play in the first. The Vikings would remain within striking distance of the Bears before a last second jumper from Bridgewater reestablished their double-digit lead (48-38) heading into the break.
• Bridgewater wasted no time building on their lead, as they scored two quick baskets to reclaim their 14-point edge after just two minutes of second-half action.  Over the next seven minutes Salem kept knocking at the door of the Bears, never letting them hold a double-digit advantage for longer than one minute, which allowed the Vikings to find themselves within seven (60-53) at the 14-minute mark.
• Unfortunately, seven would be as close as the Vikings would get, as the Bears used various runs to close out the game and take the eventual 85-67 victory over the Vikings.