SALEM, WV - Junior Ignacio Rodriguez's 21 points and four steals wouldn't be enough to push the Salem International men's basketball past Alderson Broaddus in NCAA Division II men's basketball action on Thursday night (Jan. 5). Dorrell Foster and Malik Bocook each recorded double-doubles to secure an 86-72 victory for the Battlers.

Rodriguez finished the contest 8-of-17 from the floor and 3-of-9 from downtown, while senior Victor Blakey recorded 13 points, four assists, and a 5-for-6 effort at the charity stripe.

The Tigers scored a quick bucket on a jumper by Blakey after winning the opening tip, but back-to-back buckets from the Battlers would give them a 5-2 advantage. Freshman Jarius Farrow knotted the game 5-5 after completing the old-fashioned three-point play at the free throw line.

Alderson Broaddus followed the play by answering with an 18-0 run to stretch its lead to 23-5 with 12:23 remaining in the opening stanza. The Tigers missed seven shots during the run by the Battlers and wouldn't hit their next shot until freshman Josh Carpenter hit a jumper with 11:34 left in the half.

SIU cut the deficit to 11 points (23-12) mid-way through the half, but saw the Battlers lead balloon back to 18 points after a pair of made free throws by Foster with 3:06 left in the first-half.

Alderson Broaddus held a 43-29 lead after the first 20 minutes of play.

The second-half saw the Battlers lead go up to 20 points (55-35) before the Tigers offense gained some momentum. SIU rattled-off eight straight points, closing the deficit 12 points (55-43).

Bryce Butler would tally the final point of the contest for the Battlers at the free throw line with 24 ticks remaining. The final 60-seconds of the game saw both teams go to the charity stripe a combined eight times before the final buzzer sounded.

SIU shot 26-of-78 from the floor in the contest, 5-of-27 from three-point range, and 15-of-23 from the free throw line. The Tigers recorded 33 rebounds and 40 points in the paint.

Alderson Broaddus finished 26-of-68 from the floor, 6-of-17 from downtown, and 28-of-37 at the free throw line. The Battlers pulled-down 45 boards, five blocks, and 36 points in the paint.