ELKINS, W.Va. –The Salem University men's basketball team was clipped by Davis & Elkins 77-72, Wednesday night. 
 
With the loss, Salem drops to 10-7, while Davis & Elkins improves to 3-10. 
 
The Tigers shot 42.2 percent (27-64) from the field and 32.4 from three (11-34), while the Senators shot 43.5 percent from the field (27-62) and 24.1 (729) from behind the arc. 
 
Salem's bench was outscored 20-17, while Salem committed 15 turnovers to Davis & Elkins 13. 
 
Junior Malique Ross led the way for the Tigers offensively as he netted 17 points and dished out six assists, while senior Ferlandis Penny notched his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds. 
 
Senior Malik Toppin garnered 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while freshman Fonz Hale recorded 12 points and posted three assists.
 
At the beginning of the game, the Tigers got off to a slow start as Davis & Elkins jumped out to an 8-0 lead over Salem. But the Tigers roared back with a 23-0 after a made three-pointer from junior Jesse Pistokache for a 23-8 Tiger lead qith 7:42 left in the first half. 
 
But Davis & Elkins ended the half on a 29-11 run of its own to take a 37-34 lead at intermission. 
 
The Tigers connected on eight three-pointers in the first half. 
 
In the second half, the Tigers kept the game close as they never trailed by more than six points. 
 
Salem knotted the game at 58-58 with 8:49 remaining, as Hale connected with a shot from beyond the arc. But Davis & Elkins ensued a seven-point run to take a 65-58 lead with 6:18 remaining in the contest. 
 
Davis & Elkins was led by Trevor English who scored a game-high 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds. 
 
Salem is back in action Thursday, January 17 at 6:00 p.m. as it hosts Central State.