Bryan's Triple-Double Leads Salem State

SALEM, Mass. – Sean Bryan (Lowell, Mass.) produced a triple-double of 21 points, 12 rebounds and tied a career-high with 13 assists and added five steals as Salem State won their Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) opener 95-73 over Bridgewater State on Saturday afternoon at Twohig Gymnasium.

Jarret Byrne (Melrose, Mass.) compiled a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds as Chris MacDonald (Wakefield, Mass.) – 15 points and Josiah Green (Springfield, Mass.)  - 14 points all had strong games for the Vikings, who are now 5-8 on the season and 1-0 in conference.

Stanley Pierre-Louis (Roxbury, Mass.) scored 16 points while Keyth Key (Springfield, Mass.) -12 points and Jordan Wetterlind (Twig, Minn.) – 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds each for the Bridgewater State led the Bears, who are now 3-10 on the year and 1-1 in the MASCAC.

Bridgewater State raced out to a 12-0 lead to start the game before a MacDonald three put Salem State on the scoreboard. A layup by Key gave the Bears their largest lead (16-3) at the 15:42 mark of the first half. However, the Vikings' Jaden Castillo (Lawrence, Mass.), punctuated a 20-7 run by Salem State  with a layup, tying the game at 23-all midway through the opening period.  Salem State increased their lead to 39-34 following a basket by Juvens Louis (Everett, Mass.) before settling for a 43-39 halftime advantage.  The Bears, who shot 42.5% (17-40) from the floor, were led by Quinton Champagne (Wrentham, Mass.), who had 10 first half points off the bench. Green and MacDonald carried the Vikings' offense combining for 22 first half points on 8-of-15 (53.3%) shooting, including four three-pointers.

Salem State shot 50% (21-42) from the floor in the second half as Bryan scored 17 points, helping Salem State pull away with a second half surge. Leading 58-57 Jarrett Byrne ignited a 25-7 run for the Vikings, with 10 coming from Bryan as Salem State took an 83-64 lead with 6:54 remaining. Salem State forced 11 second half turnovers, finishing with 13 steals as the Bears combined to give away the ball 19 times in the game. Two free throws by Quincy Davis (Pittsfield, Mass.) gave Salem State their largest lead of the contest, 95-73 with 1:39 left as both teams emptied the benches in the final minutes.

Castillo finished with nine points, seven rebounds and three blocks and Louis 13 points on 5-6 (83.3%) shooting for the Vikings, who snapped a seven-game losing streak. Salem State  finished the game 39-83 (47.0%) from the field, including 11-31 (35.5%) from three-point range. Bridgewater State, which connected on 31-75 (41.3%) of their shots from the floor managed just 10 trips to the foul line, converting just four attempts (40.0%).