Framingham, MA - Behind 24 points and 14 rebounds from senior
center Dylan Holmes (Groton, MA), the Salem State College men's
basketball team remained unbeaten in Massachusetts State College
Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action with a 97-75 victory over the
Framingham State Rams in Framingham tonight. The Vikings,
winners of seven straight, improve to 13-2 on the season and 3-0
in the MASCAC, while the Rams have lost three straight and
now sit at 9-8 overall and 1-3 in conference.
The Viking offense was firing on all cylinders tonight as they
connected on 52% of their offerings from the floor, while the Rams
only connected on 37.5% of their shots. Salem State held a 58-40
advantage in the paint and a 53-36 advantage on the boards.
They also received 38 points from their bench while the Rams only
received 10 from their reserves.
Junior guard Bill Carey (Abington, MA) nailed a three with 12:44
remaining the first half to pull the Rams within three at 20-17,
but that would be as close as they would come. The Vikings
went on a 19-7 run over the next six minutes to open up a 15 point
lead at 39-24 with 6:01 remaining. Holmes would scored seven
points in the run for the Vikings, who never let the Rams get any
closer than 15 and even extended the lead to as many as 25 points
in the second half.
Holmes, who was 9-of-22 from the floor in the game, led six
Vikings in double figures. Sophomore swingman Nick Linear
(Salem, MA) also added a double double for the Vikings with 19
points on 9-of-11 shooting from the field to go along with 11
rebounds. Guards Stevie Celestin (Somerville, MA) and Brennan
Bennett (Whitinsville, MA) added 12 points apiece, while Brian
Clark (Deerfield, MA) chipped in 11.
The Rams were led by junior Josue Almodovar (Holyoke, MA), who
notched his 8th double double of the season, with a
game-high 30 points on 11-of-27 shooting from the floor and 13
rebounds. Carey added 14 points including 3-of-6 from behind
the arc, while Chad Dixon (Brockton, MA) added 10 points and five
assists.
Both teams return to conference action on Thursday night as the
Rams travel to MCLA at 7:30 p.m. and the Vikings host Fitchburg
State at 8 p.m.
