Vikings Open Season With 99-90 Victory Over Eastern Nazarene

QUINCY, Mass. -- All five Salem State starters scored in double figures as the Vikings opened the 2021-22 season with a 99-90 victory over Eastern Nazarene on Thursday evening at the Lahue Athletic Center. Salem State now stands at 1-0 while the Lions go to 1-2.

Chris MacDonald and Sean Bryan led Salem State with 19 points apiece. Bryan also added eight assists and seven rebounds. Conner Byrne and Josiah Green added 15 points each while Jarret Byrne had a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds in his debut. Deven Okowuga added 13 points off the bench in 18 minutes of action.

MacDonald scored 14 first half points on 5-of-8 (62.5%) shooting as the Vikings raced out to a 53-32 halftime lead. Salem State trailed early 15-9 until Conner Byrne, who was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field in the first 20 minutes, started a 20-0 run, which was punctuated by a another layup from Byrne at the 8:29 mark. MacDonald, who had four three-pointers in the first half, scored from behind the arc with seven seconds remaining, giving Salem State a 21-point lead heading into halftime as the Vikings closed the opening half outscoring Eastern Nazarene 44-17. Salem State shot a blistering 58.8% (20-34) from the field including 53.8% (7-13) from three-point range. 

Another three from MacDonald gave the Vikings a 25-point advantage, 61-36 with 17:58 remaining early in the second. The Lions managed to cut the deficit to 10, 74-64 with 8:16 left, but Salem State pushed the lead back to 16 points, 80-64 on a tip-in by Jaden Castillo . Eastern Nazarene made the game intersting late, closing to within 88-83, but Salem State, which went to the line 21 times in the second half, put the game away by converting 7-of-8 free throws in the final two minutes of play.