Merryman Nets 30 Points to Lead Vikings Past Bears

SALEM, Mass. – Salem State men's basketball completed the season sweep of Bridgewater State, edging out their Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) foe 74-69. The victory pushed the Vikings to an 8-12 record overall and 5-2 in MASCAC play.

Omri Merryman (Lynn, Mass.) led the charge for Salem State, scoring a game-high 30 points on 9-of-18 shooting. Tyrese Rho (Boston, Mass.) added 14 points, while Liam Byrne (Melrose, Mass.) recorded a game-high 13 rebounds in the win.

For Bridgewater State, Dante Kikuba had a well-rounded performance with 12 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Josh Campbell came off the bench to lead the Bears with 15 points, five rebounds, and three assists, while Sam Sweeney contributed 14 points to the effort.

How it Happened:

• Both teams struggled to find their rhythm early, with Salem holding a slim 8-7 lead after the first seven minutes of play. Bridgewater State would soon find their groove, pushing out to a 10-point lead at the 5:41 mark. However, five quick points from Omri Merryman helped the Vikings cut the Bears' lead in half, making it a 29-24 game.
• Tyrese Rho scored seven of Salem State's final 10 points in the half, bringing the Vikings within one at the break, 35-34.
• The Vikings came out strong in the second half, scoring seven straight points to take a 41-35 lead. Merryman then hit a three-pointer to give Salem State a double-digit advantage at 54-44, but Sweeney quickly responded with three free throws to trim the lead back to single digits.
• With just under seven minutes remaining, Wil Martinez (Revere, Mass.) extended the Vikings' lead to 69-56. The Bears tried to rally, with Campbell scoring eight unanswered points to pull Bridgewater State within seven at 69-62 with 3:30 left. Sweeney nailed a deep three with 14 seconds to go to make it a two-possession game, but it was too little, too late, as the Vikings held on to secure a 74-69 victory.

Inside the Numbers:

• Merryman's 30 points marked his second-highest total of the season, with his career-best performance coming back in November when he scored 34 points at MIT.
• The Vikings capitalized on second-chance opportunities, outscoring Bridgewater State 16-8 in second-chance points.
• LJ Hicks (Gardner, Mass.) and Liam Byrne both contributed four assists in the win.

Up Next:

The Vikings have the week off and will return to action next Saturday, February 8th, when they head to Framingham State to face the Rams at 12 p.m.