BLUEFIELD, W.Va. (Feb. 11) – Four players scored in double-figures, but Bluefield State was able to hold off the Tigers, 90-84, Wednesday night in non-conference play at the Ned E. Shott Gymnasium.
 
With the loss, the Salem International University men's basketball team falls to 3-15 overall, while the Blues improve to 11-10 overall this season.
 
Senior guard Matt Thomas (Harlem, N.Y.) hit a three-pointer to give the Tigers a 77-75 lead with 4:29 remaining in the game. The Blues reclaimed the lead with a 9-2 run over the next two minutes to take an 83-77 lead with 2:12 left in the contest. Salem International scored the next five points to close the gap to one point, 83-82, with one minute left to play, but Bluefield State held off the Tigers in the final minute to claim the victory.
 
Four Tigers scored in double-figures, with Thomas and freshman forward Gerard Tarin (Fort Myers, Fla.) leading the way with 19 points, apiece. Tarin also led the team with eight rebounds. Senior forward Abel Tillman (St. Louis, Mo.) finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, while classmate David Atkinson chipped in 10 in the loss.
 
After trailing since the 12-minute mark, Thomas drained a pair of free throws with 4:31 remaining in the first half to even the score at 38-38. The Blues closed out the half by outscoring the Tigers 12-7 in the final four minutes to take a 40-34 lead into the locker rooms.
 
Salem International opened the second half with six-unanswered points to take a 41-40 lead with 17:51 remaining in the game. Bluefield State responded with a 7-2 spurt to take a 49-43 lead with 16:01 remaining in the game and held the lead for the next three minutes.
 
The Tigers battled back and took a 52-51 lead with 13:22 left in the game on a second-chance layup by Tillman. After trading baskets, Salem International took its largest-lead of the night, 59-55, after a tip-in by Tillman with 10:21 left to play in the game.
 
The Blues surged ahead with a 10-0 run over the next three minutes to take a 65-59 lead with eight minutes left, but the Tigers responded with seven-unanswered points of their own to take a 66-65 lead with under seven minutes left in the game.
 
Neither team led by more than seven points in a game that saw 12 tie scores and 15 lead changes. Salem International held a 17-7 edge on the offensive glass and finished with 14 second-chance points in the loss.
 
Dejon Reno led Bluefield State with a game-best 33 points and nine rebounds. Mark Durgan paced his effort with 28 points and six assists for the Blues.
 
Salem International returns to conference play on Saturday, Feb. 14 when they head to Parkersburg, W. Va. to take on Ohio Valley. The opening tip is scheduled for 4 p.m.