SALEM, W.Va. – The Salem University men's basketball team set the school's single-game scoring record in the 130-84 rout against Ohio Eastern, Wednesday afternoon.
The Tigers broke the old record which was held by the 2015-16 team as they held the record with 126 points against Ohio Lancaster on 12/11/15.
With the win, the Tiger improve to 9-5.
The Tigers dominated the stat line as they outrebounded Ohio Eastern 59-35, while the Tigers outscored the Panthers in the paint 58-28. Salem scored 33 points off the Panthers 19 turnovers, while Ohio Eastern notched 15 points off the Tigers 13 turnovers.
Salem shot 50 percent from the field (50-94) and 45 percent from three (18-40), while Ohio Eastern was 39.7 percent from the floor (31-78) and 35.1 from three (13-37).
Salem recorded four guys with 23 or more points as senior
Christopher Shields, senior
Malik Toppin, junior
Malique Ross and freshman
Fonz Hale combined for 109 points.
Shields led the way with a game-high 37 points and he notched his first double-double of the year with 10 rebounds, while Toppin posted a monster game and his seventh double-double of the year as he garnered 24 points and 21 rebounds.
Hale recorded a career-high with 25 points and six assists as he netted seven threes, while Ross posted his season best with 23 points and seven rebounds.
The other Tiger to reach double figures was senior
Ferlandis Penny as he produced 12 points to go along with eight rebounds.
The Tigers controlled the whole game as they started off the contest on a 12-0 run to give them a 12-0 lead with 17:45 remaining in the first half after Hale connected with a three.
With just seven minutes played in the first half, Toppin already notched his double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds as the Tigers led 21-8.
With 2:57 remaining in the first half, Shields drove the lane with purpose and put a defender on a poster as he powerfully slammed it home and gave the Tigers a 59-29 lead.
With about a minute and a half remaining in the first, Ross drained back-to-back three's as he received an and-one on the second made three. Ross ensued by making his free throw for a 68-32 advantage.
Salem held its largest lead in the first half heading into halftime as Ross hit a pull-up jumper for a 75-34 lead.
In the second half, Ohio Eastern cut the lead to 30 with 9:04 remaining in the game but it was as close as it could get as the Tigers held their largest lead of the game of 48 at 1:45 in the second half as they led 127-79.
The Tigers will take a week and a half off of play and will return to action Sunday, December 30
th as they host Wheeling Jesuit at 2:00 p.m.
