Box Score
SALEM, W. Va. (Nov. 12, 2017) – Salem University Tigers men's basketball point guard
Reggie Oliver ambled up the court late in the second half, putting on a quick burst to get his defender on his back, then slowing down to let the action unfurl in front of him.
It was in this moment, before the Kentucky State Thorobreds' 2-3 zone could settle, that Oliver worked his magic. Wedging through the gap at the top of the defense, Oliver came to a hard stop near the free-throw line, giving the slightest ball feint.
Trailing, KSU's Reggie Breeden sprinted back into the picture a fraction of a second too late, forcing Thorobred forward David Jelks to rotate one half a step up from the rim towards Oliver.
Reading the play, Tigers' big man
Malik Toppin broke out of his shuffling gait into a hard cut towards the rim, raising his right arm just as Jelks turned his head to Oliver. With that subtle bit of non-verbal communication, Oliver lobbed a soft pass through a tight window, hitting Toppin for the easy dunk.
In their first game as teammates, Oliver worked the change of pace and Toppin worked the angles, distorting the defense and finding the seams in Salem's 92-77 victory.
Toppin finished with a double-double, sealing off defenders and using his length to finish over the top of the defense for 30 points (on 13-for-22 shooting) and 16 rebounds, including eight offensive rebounds. Oliver struggled from deep, shooting just 2-for-9 from the 3-point line, but was able to probe the defense in transition and half-court pick-and-rolls for 22 points and nine assists.
More importantly, the pair showed sparks of chemistry, with Oliver finding Toppin for five of his nine assists. On one play, Toppin used his large frame as a battering ram to set a sturdy screen, and deft footwork to move off the pick, forcing a switch, sealing his defender and taking the entry pass for a basket and the foul.
On another, Toppin and Oliver made quick eye contact as
Jesse Pistokache set a jarring back screen for Toppin, setting up an alley-oop that brought the crowd at T. Edward Davis Gymnasium off its feet.
The Tigers moved the ball well, assisting on 23 of their 39 made field goals (to just 13 turnovers) to finish the game at 47.0 percent from the field. Pistokache worked as a solid secondary playmaker, attacking closeouts and ball screens for 12 points and five assists. Forward Jarius filled in the gaps, contributing 13 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block.
Salem did some of its best work in transition, getting 12 fast break points in the first half to propel the Tigers to a 49-32 halftime lead. Oliver led the team with four steals, lurking in the backcourt and jumping passing lanes for quick transition points.
Dorian Jordan led KSU with 22 points and six assists, supplementing lightning quick crossovers with twirling spin moves to create space for his elbow jumper. But the Tigers' defense did well to force KSU's leading scorer to finish over the top of longer defenders at the rim, keeping him off the free-throw line (only four attempts) and making him work for his points (25 shots for his 22 points).
Ray Croon had a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, getting to the free-throw line 12 times, hitting seven, helping spur a small second-half comeback.
But the Tigers built too large a lead early, ripping off a 29-15 run over the course of 10 minutes that started five minutes into the first half, holding KSU to just 35.14 percent shooting in the half. Salem struggled with its outside shot, hitting just 6-for-31 from deep, but scored 62 points in the paint.
Salem will travel to Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina on Nov. 14 for a game at 7:30 p.m.
