SALEM, WV - Despite getting 17-point performances from senior Dominique Robinson and junior Hollis Alexander. the Salem International University men's basketball squad dropped a 90-78 decision to Bluefield State College on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 7) in NCAA Division II men's basketball action.

Robinson finished the contest 7-of-15 from the floor and 3-of-6 at the free throw line while also recording eight rebounds. Alexander finished 5-of-8 from the floor, 2-of-3 from downtown and 5-of-6 at the free throw line. He also recorded one assist and one steal in 15 minutes of action.

The Tigers will hit the road for the next two games as SIU heads to Chowan University on Wednesday, January 11 for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off. SIU returns home to face Nyack on Saturday, January 21 at 2 p.m. inside T. Edward Davis Gymnasium.

The Blues, led by senior Julian Hernandez would out-score SIU 36-33 in the opening stanza. Hernandez dropped 17 points on the Tigers, going 5-of-7 from the floor, 3-of-5 from downtown, and 4-of-5 from the charity stripe. Senior Josh Windham chipped in eight points for Bluefield on 3-of-8 shooting from the floor.

SIU rallied to cut the Blues advantage to three points with senior Victor Blakey leading the way. Blakey went 3-of-6 from the floor, 1-of-2 from three-point range, and 3-of-3 at the free throw line to register 10 points. He also dished-out four helpers for SIU.

Both teams would shot pretty evenly from the floor with Bluefield hitting 42.9 percent of its shots and Salem connecting on 34.4 percent of its attempts.

Windham would take-over the show for Bluefield in the second-half, scoring 20 of his 28 points on the afternoon. Windham went 5-of-12 from the floor and 9-of-10 at the free throw line for the Blues. Hernandez added 10 points for Bluefield, including a 7-for-7 effort at the free throw line before fouling-out.

In just 10 minutes of action off of the bench, Alexander was able to keep the Tigers in the contest by recording 17 points and working his way to the free throw line. Robinson tallied 11 points for SIU, while junior Saquan Epps added 10 points for the Tigers.

Bluefield edged SIU 54-45 in the second-half, including a 27-for-35 effort at the free throw line en route to the 90-78 victory.

SIU finished the game shooting 36.5 percent (27-of-74) from the floor, 29.6 percent (8-of-27) from three-point range, and 69.6 percent (16-of-23) at the free throw line. Blakey finished with a team-high five assists, while freshman Jarius Farrow scored 10 points and pulled-down a team-high nine rebounds.

The Blues shot 40.7 percent from the floor, 38.1 percent from downtown, and 75.6 percent at the free throw line. Windham finished with 28 points, three assists, and six rebounds for Bluefield, while Hernandez recorded 27 points and four rebounds. Senior James Day recorded a team-high nine rebounds for Bluefield and added five points.

The Tigers held a 32-30 edge in rebounds and tallied 19 helpers, while out-scoring the Blues 36-26 in the paint.