Vikings Earn 64-54 Victory Over Merchant Marine

Williamstown, Mass. -- Sean Bryan led Salem State with 26 points and added eight rebounds as the Vikings defeated  U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 64-54 in the first round of the Purple & Gold Classic hosted by Williams College on Saturday. Bryan posted 15 points after halftime as the Vikings improve to 4-0 on the season. The Mariners go to 0-2. Salem State will play the host Ephs tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. in the second game.

Bryan led all scorers with 11 first half points as both teams struggled offensively from the field. The Vikings connected on just 8-of-33 attempts (24.2%) in the opening stanza, but went into the half tied at 27-all. A dunk by Jarret Byrne put Salem State on top 16-14 with 6:52 remaining in the first. Later, Conner Byrne gave the Vikings a three-point advantage in the final minute, 27-24, but a foul on a three-point attempt led to three straight free throws by DeMarcus Spivey, tying the game with :11 seconds remaining. The Mariners connected on just 11-of-30 (36.7%) shot attempts in the first twenty minutes.   

The two teams exchanged the lead early in the second half, before a Deven Okowuga layup gave Salem State a five-point cushion with 11:12 remaining. Spivey pulled the Mariners to within a point, 42-41 with a three-pointer. However, four straight points from Josiah Green extended the lead back to five as Salem State began to pull away. The Vikings took advantage of a 28-6 disparity in free throw attempts in the second half, as Salem State made 18, including a perfect 6-for-6 six from Bryan to win by double digits.

Green finished with 13 points and six rebounds. Connor Byrne added 10 points, seven boards and four blocks in the victory. Spivey led the Mariners with 17 points and six rebounds. Blaine McDonough and Jack Bucher each accounted for 11 points and combined for 11 rebounds in the loss.