CEDARVILLE, OH - 10-point performances from juniors Jordan Robinson and Ignacio Rodriguez along with freshman Josh Carpenter wouldn't be enough to propel the Salem International University men's basketball team past Cedarville University on Thursday night (Jan. 19) at the Callan Athletic Center. The Yellow Jackets used a 53-point second-half en route to an 89-61 victory against the Tigers.

The Tigers welcome in Nyack to T. Edward Davis Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 21) for a 2 p.m. tip-off. Live stats and video for the contest will be available at www.siutigerpride.com. SIU will then head to Philippi, West Virginia for a mid-week matchup with the Battlers of Alderson Broaddus University.

SIU had three separate leads within the first three-minutes of the contest, thanks to a hot-start from Rodriguez, who scored six of the Tigers' opening eight points. Tied 5-5 with 17:17 remaining in the opening stanza, Rodriguez would be fouled while attempting a shot from downtown and head to the free-throw line. After making all three shots, SIU looked to hold onto its lead until the Yellow Jackets took a 9-8 lead with 15:54 left in the half.

Cedarville held a 36-22 lead heading into halftime with J.C. Faubion going 3-of-9 from the floor, 3-of-3 at the free-throw line, and recording seven rebounds. Faubion's nine points would be followed by eight from teammate Joey Morlan, who went 2-of-6 from downtown and 2-of-2 at the charity stripe. Rodriguez finished the half 2-of-6 from the floor and 5-of-5 from the free-throw line for SIU.

The second-half of action would be owned by Cedarville's Kwenton Scott, who scored all 17 of his points on 8-of-10 shooting while pulling-down seven boards. Faubion nearly recorded a triple-double for the Yellow Jackets, finishing the contest with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. 

Carpenter and Robinson each hit double-figures in the second-half for the Tigers, with both hitting a pair of three's. Cedarville took its largest lead of the contest (30 points) with less than a minute remaining in the second-half. The Yellow Jackets were able to score inside the paint, allowing themselves to put some comfortable breathing room between the two teams. 

Morlan and Justice Montgomery each finished with eight points, while teammate Easton Bazzoli recorded seven points and six rebounds for Cedarville.

Senior Victor Blakey tallied nine points, three assists, and three steals for SIU, while senior Dominique Robinson added eight points and five rebounds. Sophomore Drew Pitzer recorded a team-high nine rebounds for the Tigers.

SIU finished the game 21-of-64 (32.8 percent) from the floor, 6-of-29 (20.7 percent) from three-point range, and 13-of-17 at the charity stripe. Cedarville shot 34-of-67 (50.7 percent) from the floor, 6-of-18 from downtown, and 15-of-21 at the free-throw line. Cedarville out-rebounded SIU 51-31 and scored 40 point inside the paint compared to 22 for the Tigers.

Both teams committed 14 turnovers and recorded nine steals as Cedarville held a slight-advantage (12-10) in points off of turnovers.