LANCASTER, Ohio (Nov 14) – The Tigers opened the 2015-16 season with a 98-93 win over Ohio University-Lancaster Saturday afternoon in a non-conference meeting.
 
The Salem International University men's basketball team (1-0) displayed a balanced attack, with five players scoring in double figures. Sophomore Parris Purcelle (Greenburgh, N.Y./Irvington) led the team with a game-high 22 points, while sophomore Gerard Tarin (Fort Myers, Fla./East Lee County)added 20 points in the win.
 
Junior Conrad Etchi (Burtonsville, Md./James H. Blake) contributed 19 points and a game-best eight rebounds, while senior Tyler Bell (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Central) and junior Victor Blakey (Suitland, Md./Friendly) each tallying double-digit points with 13 and 11, respectively.
 
Salem International only trailed once in the game, 44-43, with three minutes left in the first half, but the Bobcats managed to hang with the Tigers for the majority of the game. Salem International led by 15 points, 73-58, with just over 14 minutes remaining in the game, before Ohio-Lancaster 25-10 run over the next nine minutes to cut the lead to three points, 86-83, with 5:36 left on the clock.
 
The Bobcats ran out of steam in the final two minutes, shooting one-of-six from the field, allowing the Tigers to claim the victory.
 
Ohio-Lancaster made seven of nine three-point attempts in the first half (78 percent), but cooled off to shoot just three of 14 (21 percent) in the second half.
 
Ohio-Lancaster converted 21-of-30 free throws (70 percent), compared to Salem International who shot 10-of-17 (59 percent) from the charity stripe. The Bobcats were frequent visitors at the line in the first half, attempting 18 free throws, compared to just three taken by the Tigers.
 
Salem International remains on the road to begin the season with a non-conference game at Urbana (Ohio) on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m.