SALEM, WV – Despite getting a team-high 15 points from senior Victor Blakey, Salem International was unable to overcome an 0-for-18 start from the floor against the University of Charleston (WV) in the 35th Annual Joe Manchin Classic. Charleston's Justin Coleman recorded a double-double in the 69-49 win for the Golden Eagles on Saturday night (Dec. 10) in NCAA men's basketball action.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 
Final: University of Charleston 69, Salem Int'l 49
Records: Charleston (8-1), Salem Int'l (1-8)
Location: T. Edward Davis Gym | Salem, West Virginia

HOW IT HAPPENED:

•  First Half
  • Charleston started the contest with a 17-1 run.
  • Salem would stop the run with 8:50 remaining in the first-half as junior Jordan Gaither drained a three-ball to cut the deficit to 17-4.
  • Junior Ignacio Rodriguez would close the gap to 29-20 with a three-pointer for the Tigers with 1:49 remaining.
  • Coleman recorded the final four points of the half for Charleston, giving the Golden Eagles a 33-20 lead heading into the locker room.
  • Blakey scored a team-high nine points for SIU on 4-of-11 shooting. He also recorded two steals and two assists.
  • Rodriguez finished the half with seven points for the Tigers and connected on 2-of-4 three's.
  • Coleman paced the Golden Eagles in the first-half with 10 points and 11 rebounds. He also added two blocks and one assist in the half.
  • Jaylen Hinton and LeJavius Johnson combined to score 12 points for Charleston with Johnson going 4-of-4 at the charity stripe.
  • Charleston recorded five blocks in the opening-half and shot 38.3 percent from the floor (13-for-34).
  • SIU recorded six steals and turned the ball over just six times, but would shoot 18.9 percent from the floor (7-for-37).
  • The Golden Eagles registered 29 rebounds in the first-half, while the Tigers pulled-down 10 boards.
•  Second Half
  • Junior Saquan Epps would lead the Tigers in the second-half with seven points. He went 3-of-6 from the floor and pulled-down four rebounds.
  • Blakey scored six points for SIU in the second-half, while freshman Josh Carpenter added six points for the Tigers.
  • Jonathan Tshibuy paced the Charleston offense in the second-half, scoring 11 points. Tshibuy went 3-of-6 from the floor and 5-of-6 at the free-throw line.
  • Keir Anderson added seven points on 3-of-6 shooting for the Golden Eagles.
  • The closest that SIU would get to Charleston in the contest was eight points after Epps hit a jumper to cut the deficit to 38-30 with 17:11 remaining.
  • Charleston out-rebounded the Tigers 18-11 in the second-half.
  • Most of Charleston's scoring in the second-half would come from the free-throw line as the Golden Eagles made 16-of-23 opportunities.
  • SIU went 11-for-30 from the floor and 2-for-14 from downtown as they looked for the three-ball to get them back into the contest.
  • Charleston out-scored SIU 36-29 in the second-half.

 STATS FROM THE GAME:

• Rodriguez finished with nine points and three assists for the Tigers, while Epps recorded eight points and five rebounds.
• SIU scored 14 points off of Charleston turnovers in the contest.
• Coleman finished with 16 points, two blocks, and 14 rebounds for Charleston, while Johnson recorded 12 points, four assists, and eight rebounds.
• Tshibuy would add 11 points for the Golden Eagles and Hinton eight points.
• Charleston out-scored the Tigers 40-20 inside of the paint and recorded 19 second-chance points.
• SIU finished the game 18-of-67 from the floor and 5-29 from three-point range.
• The Golden Eagles went 23-of-61 from the floor and 3-of-11 from three-point range. Charleston finished 20-of-27 at the charity stripe.

UP NEXT:

The Tigers will head to Lebanon, Illinois for a 7 PM (Central Time) tip-off against McKendree University on Wednesday, December 14. Salem will then head to Quincy, Illinois to participate in the Quincy University Subway Holiday Classic. SIU will face Quincy at 3:15 PM (Central Time) on Saturday, December 17 and Lewis University the following day at 1 PM (Central Time).