MacDonald Paces Vikings to 75-64 Victory

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – Behind 25 points from senior Chris Macdonald (Wakefield, Mass.), Salem State men's basketball notched the 75-64 win over the Trailblazers of MCLA. This afternoon's win improved the Vikings to 5-7 in MASCAC play as they enter their final week of the regular season.

MacDonald paced the Vikings with 25 points to go along with four helpers while Jaden Castillo (Lawrence, Mass.) added 12 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. Jarret Byrne (Melrose, Mass.) rounded out the scoring 10 points to go along with 11 rebounds, notching a double- double in the victory.

MCLA was paced by Noah Yearsley (Averill Park, N.Y.) who exploded for a game-high 31 points while teammate, Amon Moore (Davenport, Fla.), chipped in 11 points in the effort.

How it Happened:

• The first ten minutes of basketball, much like the whole first half of play, was back-and forth basketball with MCLA finding themselves only down by one-point (12-11) thanks in large part to Yearsley's hot hand.
• Neither team saw an advantage as large as four points until a L. Byrne (Melrose, Mass.) jumper and Macdonald three-pointer put the Vikings ahead by a tally of eight (30-22) at the 2:31 mark.
• Salem would find themselves ahead by double- digits with 30 ticks left in the half, before a perfect trip to the charity stripe from Yearsley brought his team back within eight points (34-26) heading into the break.
• Just three minutes into the second half, the Trailblazers found themselves back in a one-possession game before an 8-0 run by the Vikings, which was spearheaded by two MacDonald threes, put them ahead 43-35 with 15:53 to play.
• With 2:42 to play in the game a Trailblazer three-pointer and perfect trip to the foul line would bring the home team would cut into Salem's double-digit advantage and bring them within nine (71-62), but that would be as close as they would get as the Vikings coasted to the eventual 75-64 victory in North Adams.