Marko Tutunovic recorded a double-double and Jordan Forbes' reverse layup with just over a minute remaining helped stave off a late rally as Salem University held on for a 93-86 victory over Point Park University Saturday at T. Edward Davis Gymnasium. Tutonovic finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Forbes narrowly missed his second double-double of the season with 17 points and eight boards.
 
Salem (2-3) broke away from a two-point game in the second half as Stan Smith's three-pointer capped a 13-2 run and gave the Tigers a 60-47 lead with 12:57 left in the contest. The margin stayed in double figures and Smith capped another run with a layup and three-pointer to give the Tigers their biggest lead of the game at 77-59 with 8:07 remaining.
 
Point Park (4-3) got back in the contest with a 17-2 run as the Pioneers' full court press forced four Salem turnovers. Sherron Schifino, who led all scorers with 27 points, scored the first 14 points of the run and Juwan Willis pulled the Pioneers within 79-76 on a three-pointer off a turnover with 5:30 left to play.
 
Tutunovic answered with a three and Salem built the lead back to as many as seven. Point Park made it a one-possession game again as Schifino hit all three free throws after getting fouled on a three-point attempt to draw the Pioneers within 84-82 with 2:28 remaining.
 
Smith knocked down a pair of free throws for Salem and Forbes drove through traffic for a left-handed reverse off the left glass to extend the Tigers' lead to 88-82 with 1:30 remaining. The Pioneers got as close as four points, but the Tigers hit 5-of-6 free throws in the final 36 seconds to seal the win.
 
Salem trailed by as many as eight points in the first half and never led until Aleksa Dobrijevic's three-pointer broke a 30-30 tie with 3:47 left before halftime. The Tigers took a 41-38 lead into the locker room and led the remainder of the contest.
 
Dobrijevic finished with 15 points, while Smith added 14 points. Fonz Hale dished out four assists, while Tutunovic also had four steals and two blocked shots.
 
Saturday's contest was the first of three consecutive home games for Salem as the Tigers play host to Ohio Valley University Wednesday afternoon as part of a Thanksgiving Eve basketball doubleheader at T. Edward Davis Gymnasium. Tip-off is 5 p.m. and will be preceded by Tiger women's basketball vs. nationally 16th-ranked Indiana University (Pa.).