WILBERFORCE, Ohio (Feb. 21) – Despite rallying for a second-half lead, the Tigers were clipped 70-64 by Central State University in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) action Saturday evening.
The loss drops the Salem International University men's basketball team to 3-19 overall, 1-11 in the G-MAC. Meanwhile, the Marauders improve to 9-4 in conference play, 17-10 overall.
Senior
Tyler Bell (Kalamazoo, Mich.) led the Tigers with 14 points, while freshman
Gerard Tarin (Fort Myers, Fla.) and senior
David Atkinson (McAllen, Texas) each chipped in 12 in the loss. Tarin also added a team-best nine rebounds for Salem International.
The Marauders jumped out to an 8-3 lead over the first three minutes of the game, but the Tigers fought back and Thomas drained a three-pointer to cap a 12-5 run that gave Salem International a 15-13 advantage with 10:40 remaining in the first half.
The Tigers held the edge for the next two minutes until Central State regained the lead with 8:52 on a three-pointer to go up 19-17. The Marauders stayed on top for the remainder of the period, leading by as many as seven before Salem International closed the gap to 32-29 heading into the locker rooms.
After halftime, Central State built its lead to 11, 42-31, with a 9-2 run to open the first four minutes of the second half. However, the Tigers rallied with another 12-5 run to pull within four, 47-43, with 10:14 remaining in the contest.
Despite allowing the Marauders to rebuild their lead to eight, Salem International responded once again to slice the deficit back to four, 53-49, with 8:39 left in the game, and forcing a Central State timeout.
After a Central State turnover out of the timeout, Atkinson drained a three-pointer to bring the Tigers within one, 53-52, with 6:22 remaining in the game. Each team traded baskets before an Atkinson lay-up gave Salem International a 56-55 lead with 5:01 left in regulation.
The Marauders responded with six-unanswered points to take a 61-56 lead with 3:28 remaining in the contest. Each team traded buckets over the next two minutes, until Bell cut the lead with a pair of free-throws to three, 65-62, with 53 seconds left in the game. Unfortunately, the Marauders limited the Tigers to two points down the stretch to pick up the win.
Raheem Lemons registered a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds for Central State in the victory.
The Tigers wrap-up the season with a pair of road games next week, beginning with a trip to Owensboro, Ky. on Thursday, Feb. 26, to take on Kentucky Wesleyan. The opening-tip is set for 7:30 p.m. central time, 8:30 p.m. local time.
