MIT Prevails 80-64 Over Salem State

SALEM, Mass.--  Ian Hinkley (Raleigh, Mass.) scored 33 points on 13-of-21 (61.9%) shooting to lead MIT to an 80-64 victory over Salem State on Wednesday evening at Twohig Gymnasium. The Engineers improve to 5-3 while the Vikings slip to 4-3.

Hinkley and Charles Rich (Holladay, Utah) combined for 32 first half points as the Engineers built a 41-34 halftime advantage. Leading 23-17 in the first half, after a Hinkley three, MIT increased the margin to 10, after Julian Manyika (San Francisco, Calif.) connected from behind the arc with 5:14 remaining. Hinkley's fourth three of the half pushed the advantage to 41-28 before a layup by Jarret Byrne (Melrose, Mass.) and back-to-back baskets by Chris MacDonald (Wakefield, Mass.) cut the deficit to seven points heading into the half.  Jarret Byrne had 11 first half points for Salem State on 4-of-5 shooting. MacDonald had a strong showing off the bench, adding 10 first half points. The Vikings struggled from the field, shooting just 13-36 (36.1%) and converted only 3-of-11 (27.3%) attempts from the free throw line.

Hinkley gave MIT a 54-38 lead at the 16:11 mark of the second half with his 23^rd point of the night. Salem State could not find any consistency on the offensive end, opening the half 4-of-16 (25.0%) from the field as the Engineers maintained a 15-point advantage with 10:54 left to play. Hinkley, who had 15 points in the second half, connected for his 7^th three-pointer as the Engineers' margin grew to its largest of the night, 75-53 with 4:32 remaining. The Vikings scored only nine field goals 9-32 (28.1%) after halftime, led by 12 points from Conner Byrne (Melrose, Mass.). Salem State took 20 free throws, making 15 compared to just two trips to the charity stripe (0-2) for the Engineers.  

Jarret Byrne (Melrose, Mass.) finished with 11 points for the Vikings, while Sean Bryan (Lowell, Mass.) added 10. Conner Byrne led all players with 15 rebounds.