Hunt's heroics lead MCLA men as they nip Salem 59-58
Todd Hunt scored the game winning basket with just four seconds left as MCLA defeated Salem State Tuesday night
Salem, MA- Trailblazer Todd Hunt scored the game winning basket with four seconds left pushing the MCLA Men's basketball team past Salem State 59-58 in MASCAC action at the Twohig Center. MCLA earned a key victory and improves to 2-4 in the league, 5-13 overall. The Vikings suffer their first conference loss and now sit at 5-1.
With the score at 55-54 in favor of the Trailblazers with just 1:20 left, Salem got a defensive stop and Andrew White went coast to coast to give the Vikings a one point edge at 56-55 with 1:10 left. MCLA was whistled for a travel on their next possession and White was fouled after breaking the Trailblazer pressure. He would knock down both free throws to extend the lead to three points with one minute remaining.
Hunt scored off a Paul Maurice miss to pull MCLA back within one point with 49 seconds left. The Trailblazers decided to play defense rather than foul and MCLA got a stop and called timeout with 16 seconds left setting up their final possession.
Maurice drove the paint and was in trouble when he found a cutting Hunt for a reverse layup with four seconds left. Salem chose not to take a timeout and Bryan Ortiz' last second heave was off the mark giving MCLA the hard fought victory.
The game was tight all the way through the second half as neither side held more than a seven point lead.
Hunt finished his night with 17 points and 7 rebounds. He was 8-15 from the floor. John Jones finished a rebound shy of a double double with 18 points and 9 boards. They were the only Trailblazers in double figures.
Salem State was led by White's 18 points and 9 rebounds. Ortiz ended the night with 11 points.
MCLA will look to get back in the thick of the MASCAC race as they host Bridgewater State on Saturday at 3pm.