Vikings Knock Off Falcons, 93-85

Perez led the Flock with a game-high 21 points

Fitchburg, Mass. - Fitchburg State University men's basketball team dropped a 93-85 decision to the Vikings of Salem State University, on Wednesday evening in Massachusetts Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action at Parkinson Gymnasium.

The Basics
Score: Fitchburg State University 85, Salem State University 93
Records: Fitchburg State (7-13, 3-5 MASCAC) | Salem State (18-3, 8-0 MASCAC)

How It Happened
Fitchburg opened the contest with a jumper from sophomore Tyrell St. John (Stamford, Conn.) for a 2-0 lead. Salem State chipped the scoreboard with a trey from Alex Santos (Lawrence, Mass.). The visitors then broke the game open with a 14-4 run, with six different scorers over the five minute span. With 11:30 on the clock the Green and Gold pulled within six (19-13) following a pair of layups from Charles Doss (Fitchburg, Mass.) and Jonathan Perez (Lowell, Mass.). After FSU junior Noah Fleury (Weymouth, Mass.) made it a 25-20 game with a lay-in at 7:18, Salem responded with a 13-4 spark to push away to a 14 point lead. Salem held their largest lead of the half (15) with 1:37 to go following a 3-point shot from Jacob Lindland (Hamilton, Mass.), but the Falcons finished with a jumper from senior Josh Bosworth (Springfield, Mass.) to put the score at 48-35.

Senior Drew Healy (Lowell, Mass.) opened the second half with a 2-point marker for Salem State, as the Vikings quickly regained control, holding a 21 point lead (70-49) with 14:24 to play. However, the Falcons wouldn't quit, and dug in with some nasty defense and clutch baskets from the offense. Tallying seven points from Nicholas Tracy (Indianapolis, IN), eight points from Perez and when junior Brandon Harris (San Bernardino, Calif.) converted a bunny with 6:27 to play the difference was now three points (79-76). Unfortunately, that was as close as the home team could get and the Vikings held on down the stretch for the 93-85 victory.

Inside the Numbers

• Perez led the Falcons with a game-high 21 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.
  
• The Falcons had five players in double figures. Doss added 14 points and 5 rebounds, while Tracy's stat line read 13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, one block and a helper.
• Salem was led by Healy's team-high 19 points and 12 rebounds for the games only double-double.
• The Vikings had six players in double figures. Santos contributed 18 points, 5 boards, 5 assists and a steal.
• Salem held the advantage in shooting percentage: The Vikings shot 50.8% (30-59) from the field and 45.5% (10-22) from 3-point range, while Fitchburg shot 45.2% (33-73 from the field and 45% (9-20) from beyond the arc.
• Salem State edged Fitchburg State in rebounds 44-38

Up Next
Fitchburg State University returns to action on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Pine Manor College for a non-conference match-up, game time is 3:00pm. The Vikings host Framingham State on Saturday at 3:00 pm.