Salem, MA --- Salem State sophomore Chris Parenteu's (Lancaster, MA) putback snapped a tie game and classmate Andrew White (Medford, MA) scored a pair of layups in the final minutes of regulation to help Salem State escape with a 77-71 win over Worcester State Tuesday evening at Twohig Gymnasium.
The Vikings used an 8-0 run to break a 64-64 tie to improve to 11-7 on the season, 4-2 in MASCAC play. The Lancers fell to 6-11, 3-3.
After WSU had clawed back from a 10-point deficit, Parenteau followed a senior Brian Clark (Deerfield, MA) miss with a weak-side rebound to reclaim the lead for Salem State.
Following a White free throw, the sophomore Robert Hunter (St. Louis, MO) appeared to have an easy path to the basket, but SSU junior Nate Simpson (Lowell, MA) was able to block the shot. White then came down with the rebound and raced in for a layup to increase the lead to five. He had another layup after a WSU turnover, giving the Vikings a 71-64 lead with less than one minute remaining.
The Vikings were able to salt the game away at the free throw line.
The lead changed hands five times in the opening minutes of the second half, but the Vikings seized momentum when Clark slammed home an alley-oop off a feed from fourth-year Apollos Wade (Taunton, MA) and Simpson drilled a three-pointer. The outburst broke a 36-36 tie and gave the Vikings a five-point lead.
Salem State increased its advantage to 10 with a 10-3 run, fueled by a pair of fast break layups by junior Justin Nieves (Lawrence, MA) and capped by two Simpson free throws following a technical foul by WSU. The skien gave the Vikings a 59-49 lead with just under seven minutes remaining.
Worcester State came roaring back to tie the game at 64-64. Hunter scored 11 points in a 15-5 run that culminated with a layup by senior Frank Stephenson (Fall River, MA) which knotted the game with 2:18 left, setting up Salem State's final run.
Clark finished with 18 points for Salem State, connecting on 8-13 from the field. White had 18 as well, while Nieves and Simpson added 12 points and four blocks. The Vikings shot 43% from the field and won despite being outrebounded 54-34.
Hunter finished with a game-high 24 points on 10-of-18 shooting and added 10 rebounds. Junior Monte Goodwin (Boston, MA) had 13 points, 12 boards and four blocks while Stephenson finished with 10 and seven caroms.
The game got off to a sluggish beginning, as Salem State missed its first 11 shots, while Worcester State started just 4-for-18.
The Vikings first bucket came with 10:44 remaining, but it began a string of four straight makes. Brian Clark, senior Dan Clark (Deerfield, MA), and White all drilled three-pointers, and SSU spurted to a 15-11 lead.
Goodwin scored six points in the final minutes of the half to pace an 8-4 Lancer run, and Worcester State took a 28-27 lead at the intermission.
Worcester State led in total rebounds (54-34) and offensive boards (25-10) while the squad also held a 27-10 edge in second-chance points. SSU had a 16-9 advantage in points off miscues.
Salem State returns to action Saturday when it hosts Westfield State at 3 o'clock Worcester State entertains Anna Maria on Thursday at 8 PM.
Major Portions of Release Courtesy of Salem State Sports Information