Lions Tame Vikings, 76-73

SALEM, Mass. – Salem State men's basketball hosted Emerson College this afternoon in a back-and-forth battle, with both teams exchanging the lead nine times. In the end, the Lions edged out the Vikings, securing a 76-73 victory and dropping Salem State to 1-2 on the season.

Four Vikings scored in double digits, with Omri Merryman (Lynn, Mass.) leading the charge, putting up 22 points while shooting 5-of-8 from beyond the arc. LJ Hicks (Gardner, Mass.) and Tyrese Rho (Boston, Mass.) added 20 and 17 points, respectively. Liam Byrne (Melrose, Mass.) had an all-around performance, registering a double-double with 17 rebounds, five blocks, and four assists.

Lucas Brenner (Miami, Fla.) led the Lions with 18 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while Trevor Arico (Saine, Maine) and Asher Gardiner (Christchurch, New Zealand) added 13 and 12 points, respectively, in the victory.

How it Happened:

• Merryman came out hot, scoring eight of the Vikings' first 14 points, including a deep ball at the 16-minute mark that gave Salem State a 14-7 lead. However, Arico quickly responded for the Lions, scoring back-to-back buckets to fuel a 9-0 run, allowing Emerson to take their first lead of the game, 18-17.
• In the final 12 minutes of the first half, both teams traded the lead four times and tied the game twice. In the closing 20 seconds, a jumper from a Lion gave Emerson a slim 37-35 lead heading into the break.
• The Lions held onto their lead to begin the second half, going up 48-43. However, a putback dunk from Liam Byrne sparked a 9-0 run for the Vikings, giving them their first lead of the second half at 52-48 with 13:03 remaining.
• Salem held onto the lead until the six-minute mark, when the Lions tied the game at 61, marking the start of another back-and-forth battle. The lead changed hands three times before Merryman hit a clutch three-pointer, to give the Vikings a 69-64 advantage with just over three minutes remaining. However, Brenner responded for the Lions, sinking consecutive three-pointers to put Emerson ahead 74-71 with under a minute to go.
• Rho made it a one-point game with a perfect trip to the free-throw line, but the Lions answered with a pair of free throws on the other end to go ahead three before coming up with a crucial defensive stop on Salem's final possession to secure a 76-73 victory over the Vikings.

Inside the Numbers:

• Bench play proved to be the difference, as the Lions outscored the Vikings 18-0 in bench points.
• LJ Hicks had a season-high 20 points in this afternoon's effort.
• Tyrese Rho has scored in double digits in all three of his games as a Viking.

Up Next:

The Vikings will hit the road for their first away trip of the season on Tuesday, November 19, when they travel to MIT to face the Engineers at 7 p.m.