Vikings Erupt for 102 Points in Conference Opener Victory

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Salem State men's basketball erupted for 102 points tonight, defeating Bridgewater State University 102-79 in their Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) opener. The victory improved their record to 4-10 overall and 1-0 in MASCAC play.

Tyrese Rho (Boston, Mass.) led the charge with a game-high 29 points on an efficient 10-of-12 shooting, to go along with five assists and four steals. Nicholas Martinez (Revere, Mass.) contributed 22 points and seven assists, while LJ Hicks (Gardner, Mass.) and Omri Merryman (Lynn, Mass.) rounded off the scoring 17 and 15 points, respectively.

The Bears were spearheaded by Dante Kikuba, who tallied 16 points, seven assists, and six rebounds. Steven Morrell and Noah Downing chipped in 14 points each in the effort.

How it Happened:

• The Vikings began to find their rhythm just minutes into the game as a 9-0 run gave them an 11-4 lead with 15:33 remaining in the first half. A layup by the Bears at the 12:07 mark cut the deficit to two points, but the Vikings responded with another surge, extending their lead to 24-13 midway through the half.
• With just over five minutes left in the first, the Bears brought it to a two-possession game, but the Vikings quickly answered. An 8-0 run, highlighted by a dunk from Liam Byrne (Melrose, Mass.), pushed the Vikings' lead back to 41-29. From there, the Vikings would maintain control and hold off the Bears to head into halftime with a 52-40 advantage.
• The Bears remained competitive for most of the second half, staying within single digits multiple times over a span of 14 minutes. However, the Vikings closed the game strong, launching a 17-5 run fueled by eight points from Rho, ultimately securing a commanding 102-79 victory over the Bears.

Inside the Numbers:

• Rho matched his career-high of 29 points today, a mark he originally set in his first game in a Vikings' uniform.
• The Vikings' 52-point first half is the highest scoring half of the season.
• In his second appearance for the Vikings, Steven Jean-Louis (Charlestown, Mass.) set a career-high with eight points in just eight minutes of play.
• Omri Merryman continued to showcase his range from beyond the arc, hitting three of his six attempts , which keeps him at the top of the MASCAC with a 46.6% three-point shooting percentage.

Up Next:

The Vikings will host the Rams from Framingham State University on Wednesday, January 15 at 5:00p.m.