MCLA Men earn pivotal road win over Salem State 92-81

Salem, MA- The MCLA Men's basketball team earned a pivotal MASCAC road victory in defeating the Salem State Vikings 92-81 this evening.  With the win, the Trailblazers even their overall record at 10-10, but more importantly remain atop the MASCAC standings in improving to 6-1 overall.  The Vikings drop to 12-8 overall and their conference record slips to 4-4.

MCLA shot 51% from the floor and knocked down 10 three pointers in the contest.  First year Paul Maurice drilled six from long range, including a couple late in the contest, in leading his team with 20 points. 

The contest was a back and forth affair with each team holding leads in the second half.  After the Trailblazers took a ten point lead into halftime (40-30), Salem came roaring back after scoring the first nine points in the second stanza to pull within one at 40-39.  MCLA would answer though and eventually push back out to a seven point lead following a Maurice three with 11:24 to play making it 57-50.

The Vikings quickly answered, using a 14-2 run to grab a 64-59 lead after a Tavone Wynder jumper with 8:23 left.  MCLA would claw back into it and eventually tie the game at 68 on Bilal Shabazz' free throw.  After a few minutes of action had the score still knotted at 73 apiece, MCLA finally took control.

Kenny Suggs started the game clinching run with a layup off one of Shabazz' game high 9 assists.  Suggs would put back a Ramon Viches miss to put MCLA up four before Richard Johnson's layup put the Trailblazers up 79-73 with 3:07 left.  Salem's Hanell Velez' three point play closed the hosts to within three and after an MCLA free throw, Viking guard Bryan Ortiz drilled a three to make it 80-79 with just over two minutes left.

MCLA's Viches would drill a back breaking three pointer on the next possession to put Salem back on their heels.  Salem once again got within three points at 84-81, but Maurice drilled his sixth and final triple with 52 seconds left to seal the win for MCLA.

In the opening half, Salem led over the first ten minutes of action and with the score holding at 21-18 in favor of the Vikings, they seemed poised to take a lead into halftime.  MCLA had other plans though, and outscored Salem 22-9 over the final ten minutes to take a 40-30 halftime edge.

MCLA Richard Johnson had his best performance of the season in collecting 16 points on 8-10 shooting.  John Jones collected his third straight double double, finishing with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Suggs would end the night with 14 points and 11 rebounds, including 8 offensive.

The Vikings were led by Wynder's 18 points.  Ortiz would finish with 17 points and Ryan Salvador would end with 14 points.  Andrew White chipped in with 11.

MCLA will look to continue their path atop the MASCAC on Saturday when they host Worcester State at 5pm.