Fitchburg State Downed By Salem State, 74-66

Knower collects double-double in Falcons MASCAC setback

SALEM, Mass. (January 20, 2011) – Senior Elliot Knower (Baldwinville, Mass./Narragansett) collected a double-double this evening, but the Fitchburg State men’s basketball team fell to Salem State University, 74-66 in MASCA action.

Brian Clark (Deerfield, Mass.) scored 29 points and Apollos Wade (Taunton, Mass.) added 20, as Salem State withstood a late rally to hold on for its second league victory. The Vikings earned their second straight win and improved to 7-6 on the season, 2-1 in MASCAC play. The Falcons fell to 3-11, 0-3 in the MASCAC.

The teams battled back and forth in the opening minutes, with SSU clinging to a 19-18 lead after Tristian Shannon’s (Andover, Mass.) jumper with ten minutes left. However, the Vikings seized control with a 21-10 run to end the period, thanks to nine points from Clark (including 5-5 from the free-throw line) and five from Wade. Salem State cruised into the locker room with a 40-28 lead, and was shooting 48% from the field.

The Vikings exploded out of the gate to begin the second half, ripping off a 10-1 run for their largest lead, 50-29. Clark and Justin Nieves (Lawrence, Mass.) lifted Salem State to a 66-40 advantage with consecutive threes before Fitchburg State began its’ comeback.

Junior Steven Verdi (Revere, Mass./Malden) drilled a three to start the rally before the Falcons converted a five-point play. Sophomore Mark Vickers (Boston, Mass./Snowden International) started the five point explosion with a basket and free-throw before senior Robert Hopkins (East Hartford, Conn./RHAM) connected on two more free throws following a Viking technical foul. The sequence cut the Vikings lead to 60-50 with nine minutes remaining.

The Falcons pulled within seven, 62-55, after a three by Kyle Berk (Putnam Valley, N.Y./John Jay), but the Vikings kept the margin at 10-12 points for the next four minutes. The Fitchburg State comeback was short-lived as Clark hit a leaner in the lane, with the shot clock winding down, to give the Vikings a 70-60 lead with 1:34 remaining.

Clark finished 11-19 from the floor, and was 6-7 from the line. SSU shot 51% from the field for the game, as Wade also hit 7-12. Clark also had a team-high 8 rebounds. The Falcons were led by Knower, who finished with 17 points and 13 rebounds, while Verdi had 14 points and Hopkins added ten.

Fitchburg State (3-11, 0-3 MASCAC) will be in action again on Saturday as it travels to MCLA at 3 p.m. Salem State (7-6, 2-1 MASCAC) will host Bridgewater State University on Saturday at 3 p.m.

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Salem State 74, Fitchburg State 66