Bears Nip Vikings In Overtime

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Chris MacDonald and Josiah Green each poured in 27 points, but Louis Jennings countered with 26 for Bridgewater State as the Bears defeated Salem State 108-105 in overtime on Saturday in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action on Saturday at the Tinsley Center. Bridgewater State ups their record to 11-3 and got to 1-1 in the conference. The Vikings slide to 2-12 and 0-2.

Salem State held a 49-47 advantage at halftime as MacDonald and Green combined for 23 points on 9-for-14 (64.3%) shooting. Conner Byrne added 12 points as the Vikings' offense was efficient, going 19-of-32 (59.4%) from the field and 8-of-9 (88.9%) from the free throw line. The Vikings held their largest lead of the contest, 24-19 at the 12:00 mark following a Conner Byrne layup. Jennings, who led Bridgewater State with 15 first half points, scored two quick baskets to regain the lead for the Bears, 29-26 with 9:27. Later, a MacDonald three gave Salem State a 45-40 advantage, but the Bears tied the game twice before Jaden Castillo gave the Vikings the halftime lead with a bucket right before the buzzer. 

Neither team could pull away in the second with Bridgewater State taking their largest lead 80-73 after a Peyton Priest three at the 8:01 mark. The Vikings climbed back into the game, pulling to within a point after back-to-back three pointers by MacDonald and Green. A Conner Byrne layup gave Salem State a 94-92 lead with 1:22 left, but two free throw by Emerson Halbleib tied the game again as both teams failed to convert in the closing seconds with Priest missing a game-winning three point attempt at the buzzer. 

Overtime saw the Bears take control early, as a three by Justin Parsons gave Bridgewater State a three-point cushion. The Vikings fought back as Jarret Byrne tied the game at 102-all with 1:06 left, but Bridewater State's Dante Kikuba answered with a trey for a 105-102 lead with :47 seconds left. Jarret Byrne stepped up again, draining his only three-pointer of the game to tie the score once again, but after the Bears took the clock to under 10 seconds, a miss by Parsons was followed up by Jennings, who scored the game-winner with :03 seconds left. A free throw by Jennings made the score 108-105 as Salem State turned the ball over before getting off a game-trying attempt.

The Vikings' Conner Byrne finished with a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds while Jarret Byrne had 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Castillo also reached double figures and had a team-high seven assists. 

Emerson Halbleib contributed 16 points, 11 rebounds and and six assists for Bridgewater State. Parsons had 14 points and five assists while Priest ended the game with 10 points for the Bears, who connected on 40-of-86 (46.5%) attempts from the field. 

Salem State shot well, going 41-of-72 (56.9%) from the field, but were just 9-of-27 (33.3) from behind the arc.