Lancers Outlast Vikings in Overtime

WORCESTER, Mass. – Ryan Rubenskas (Bridgewater, Mass.) went 2-2 from the free throw line in the final second of regulation to send the game into overtime where his squad would eventually take the 103-99 victory over Salem State this afternoon. The loss dropped the Vikings to 11-11 overall and 4-6 in conference action.

Jaden Castillo (Lawrence, Mass.) and Liam Byrne (Melrose, Mass.) both netted career-highs with 36 points and 28 points, respectively, with Byrne grabbing 13 rebounds for the double-double. Michael Makiej (Andover, Mass.) and L.J. Hicks (Gardner, Mass.) chipped in with 17 points and 15 points, respectively, in the effort.  

For the Lancers, Aaron Nkrumah (Worcester, Mass.) poured in a game-high 41 points to go along with seven rebounds and four assists while Rubenskas added 21 points of his own in the victory.

Neither team was able to get much of an edge to start the game as the opening 15 minutes of action saw nine ties and seven lead changes before a 4 unaswered points at the five-minute mark gave the Lancers the 33-29 tilt. The Lancers would lead by as many as five before the Vikings closed the half with five unanswered points to take the 39-37 advantage heading into the break.

Coming out of the break, Castillo scored five unanswered points to give Salem their largest lead of the game at six (48-42). The Vikings would hold on to the slight lead until the seven-minute mark when Nkrumah went on a tear, connecting on three triples in a row to give the Lancers a three-point cushion (77-74). Castillo would answer with back-to-back deep balls of his own to reclaim the Vikings lead (80-77) with 5:02 to play in regulation. Despite a couple of stalemates, the Vikings were able to keep the upper hand in the one-possession game until the final second when Rubenskas was fouled and sent to the line where he pulled out the heroics to tie the game at 88 and send it into overtime.

In overtime the Vikings would tie the game at 89 and 93 but the Lancers would go 5-5 from the free throw line in the final 30 seconds to secure the 103-99 victory.

The Vikings will remain on the road as they travel to Fitchburg State on Wednesday, February 14 to take on the Falcons for a 7p.m. tipoff.