Vikings Outlast Raiders, 88-81

NASHUA, N.H. - - Salem State men's basketball traveled to Nashua, New Hampshire to take on the Raiders of Rivier University for a mid-week non-conference matchup. Five Vikings found themselves in double-digits en route to the 88-81 victory over the Raiders, to push Salem to 4-3 on the young season and drop the Raiders to 5-2. 

The Vikings were led by Liam Byrne (Melrose, Mass.) who recorded a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds while Nicholas Martinez (Revere, Mass.) chipped in with 20 to go along with four helpers. Michael Makiej (Andover, Mass.) had an all-around performance with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists in the victory.

On the other side, Devin Owens poured in a game-high 29 points while teammate, Odarius Cade, added 16 points and seven rebounds for the Raiders in the effort. 

Five minutes into the action the Vikings found themselves with a double-digit edge after a 13-0 run made it 15-5 in their favor and forced the home team into taking a timeout. Coming out of the timeout, Owens provided an answer for the Raiders as he drilled a three to bring his squad back within seven (15-8). The Raiders would slowly chip away before another Raider three brought them within four points of the Vikings, but Sean Richter (Montague, Mass.) halted their momentum with a three of his own at the halfway mark. Five minutes later, the Vikings would notch their largest lead thus far, after eight unanswered points put them ahead 12 (35-23) with under five minutes remaining in the half. The Raiders refused to go away and capped off the half with a last-second layup to cut the Viking's lead to nine (41-32) to head into the break.

Just three minutes into the second, and behind back-to-back jumpers from N. Martinez, the Vikings opened the second half on an 8-3 run to further distance themselves (49-33). The Raiders started to make their move at the ten-minute mark when a little run of their own would make it a two-possession game with just over seven minutes to play. Both teams would trade baskets over the next three minutes before Rivier found themselves down by two (70-68) after Owens' split a trip to the charity stripe. Byrne would quickly answer with back-to-back layups to give his squad some wiggle room before the Vikings were able to control the remainder of the game from the free throw line to take the 88-81 victory on the road.