Salem State Rallies Past Fitchburg State, 100-97

Valliere and Henneberry combine for 49 points in Falcons setback

SALEM, Mass. (January 18, 2013) –Tavon Wynder's (Boston, MA)three-pointer with 2.3 seconds left completed a 26-point comeback, as Salem State stunned Fitchburg State 100-97 Thursday evening at the O'Keefe Center. 

The Vikings trailed 55-29 in the opening minute of the second half, but made 12 of 15 three-pointers over the final 20 minutes to upset the Falcons. The Vikings improved to 11-5 overall, 3-1 in MASCAC play. Fitchburg State fell to 8-6, 1-3.

Salem State did not take its' first lead until less than one minute remaining, when Wynder hit a pair of free throws that gave Salem State a 96-95 advantage. Justin Nieves (Lawrence, MA) hit one of two free throws to put the Vikings ahead by two with 33 seconds left, but Fitchburg State's Mike Ingram-Rubin (Boston, MA) sank two charity tosses to tie the game at 97. After a timeout, the Vikings' Bryan Ortiz (Salem, MA) found Wynder open in the corner for the game-winner. Fans stormed the court after the Falcons' Tom Henneberry (Lexington, MA) missed a half court shot at the buzzer.

Fitchburg State led 50-27 at halftime, having hit 9-15 threes in the first half. A Henneberry three – his fifth – in opening minute of the second half gave the Falcons their 26-point lead with 19:36 remaining. Salem State chipped away, and Ortiz's second trey of the half cut the deficit to 17 with 15:31 left. Hanell Velez (Woburn, MA) buried a three to cut the deficit to 11, and then scored a layup to bring the Vikings within nine, 77-68 with 8:38 remaining.

Wynder, Velez, and Ortiz all connected again from beyond the arc to bring Salem State to within two, 83-81 with 5:39 left.  Zack Valliere's (Douglas, MA)dunk temporarily restored order, increasing the Falcons' lead to 91-84, but Velez and Wynder hit from downtown again to cut the deficit to 93-90. Andrew White 's (Medford, MA) layup with 1:16 left brought the Vikings to within one, 95-94, and set up the frantic final minute.

Ortiz led the Vikings with 23 points, Wynder had 20, while Velez and White had 14 apiece. Salem State scored 73 points in the second half and shot 66% (25-38) from the field in the final 20 minutes. The Falcons were led by Valliere, who had 25 points and nine rebounds on 11-15 shooting, and Henneberry, who finished with 24. Fitchburg State lost, despite shooting 53% from the field for the game, including 55% from three-point range.

The Vikings return to action Saturday when they host Bridgewater State at 3 p.m. in the O'Keefe Center.  The Falcons visit MCLA also at 3 p.m.