RENSSELAER, IN– The Salem International University men's basketball team was unable to overcome a slow first half start as the Tigers fell to Grand Valley State University 92-68 on Saturday night (Nov. 26). Junior Saquan Epps finished the contest with a team-high 20 points by going 8-of-13 from the floor and 2-of-4 from  three-point range.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 
Final: Grand Valley State University 92, Salem Int'l 68
Records: Grand Valley (4-3), Salem Int'l (0-5)  
Location: Scharf Fieldhouse | Rensselaer, Indiana

HOW IT HAPPENED:

•  First Half
  • Epps scored 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting for the Tigers and went 1-of-2 at the charity stripe.
  • Luke Ryskamp scored 16 points for Grand Valley and went 6-of-9 from the floor and 4-of-7 from three-point range.
  • Salem Int'l was 8-of-22 from the floor and 1-of-8 from downtown, while GVSU was 17-of-30 from the floor and 8-of-16 from three-point range.
  • GVSU held a 15-14 advantage in rebounds and forced the Tigers to commit 11 turnovers while committing seven of its own.
  • Freshman Josh Carpenter and junior Jordan Robinson each scored four points for SIU
  • Drake Baar went 3-of-3 to tally eight points for GVSU, while teammate Juwan Starks scored seven points.
  • GVSU led 45-23 at the end of the opening stanza.

•  Second Half
  • Carpenter tried his best to put the Tigers back in the game, scoring 12 points in 16 minutes of action Carpenter shot 5-of-9 from the floor.
  • Epps added his other 10 points in the second half, while senior Victor Blakey went 8-for-10 at the charity stripe to account for all of his points.
  • Baar paced the GVSU offense in the second half, going 7-of-7 from the floor in 13 minutes of action.
  • Chris Dorsey added seven points and Trevin Alexander five points for Grand Valley.
  • The Tigers would commit eight turnovers in the second half, while GVSU was forced into six turnovers.
  • GVSU was 17-of-34 from the floor and 4-of-13 from three-point territory, while the Tigers were 14-of-32 from the floor and 7-of-15 from three-point land. Carpenter and freshman Jarius Farrow each drained two three's in the half for SIU.
  • SIU went 10-of-13 at the free throw line in the half and GVSU went 9-of-16.
  • Grand Valley out-scored SIU 47-45 in the second half.

 STATS FROM THE GAME:

• Carpenter finished with 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting for Salem Int'l.
• Blakey scored all of 10 points at the free throw line, going 10-of-12 and dished out a team-high eight assists.
• Baar was a perfect 10-of-10 from the floor for GVSU and finished with a game-high 23 points.
• Ryskamp tallied 16 points for Grand Valley and went 4-of-9 from downtown.
• Zach West had a team-high seven assists for GVSU and finished with eight points.
• GVSU out-rebounded the Tigers 35 to 20 with 25 of Grand Valley's 35 boards coming on the defensive end of the court.

UP NEXT:

The Tigers will host Adelphi on Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 29 with tip-off slated for 4:00 pm at the T. Edward Davis Gym. Live stats and video will be available at www.SIUTigerPride.com.