Fonz Hale led all scorers with a season-high 26 points off the bench, but it wasn't enough as Salem University fell to Point Park University 102-99 in double overtime in men's basketball Tuesday at Pittsburgh, Pa. The Tigers cut a five-point deficit in the second overtime down to one before Point Park sealed the win with a pair of free throws in the final seconds.


Salem (4-5) fell behind 90-84 in the first overtime before Ralph Diaz sparked a Tiger comeback. Diaz hit a basket off his own steal and then answered a Point Park free throw with a three-pointer to pull the Tigers within 91-89 with 42 seconds left. After another Pioneer turnover, Scott McGann kept a Tiger possession alive with a pair of offensive rebounds and drew a foul to get to the free throw line with 17 seconds remaining. McGann sank the first free throw and after a Point Park timeout, hit the second to tie the game. A Pioneer three-point attempt at the buzzer was off the mark to force a second overtime.

The Tigers trailed 99-94 in the second overtime, but a basket by Hale and a pair of free throws by Stan Smith pulled Salem within 100-99 with 57 seconds left. Hale's steal with 33 seconds remaining gave the Tigers a chance to take the lead. But after a Salem timeout, the Pioneers' Mark Shehady forced a turnover and hit two free throws for the final margin.

The first half saw five ties and four lead changes before Smith's two free throws with 5:30 remaining broke a 26-26 tie and put Salem on top for the remainder of the half. Three-pointers by Smith and Hale, along with a three-point play by Marko Tutunovic helped the Tigers stretch the lead to double digits at 43-33 with 2:18 remaining before halftime. Point Park ended the half on a 7-2 run to cut Salem's lead to 45-40 at the break.

Smith (12 points), Hale (11 points) and Tutunovic (10 points) all reached double figures in the first half.

Point Park regained the lead in the second half and built the advantage to as many as six points. Salem trailed throughout most of the half until Diaz hit a tying three-pointer and Tutunovic's basket put the Tigers back on top 83-81 with 2:58 left in regulation. Steals by Hale and Jordan Forbes and a Diaz block helped preserve the lead, and a Forbes free throw with 1:47 remaining extended the Tigers' lead to 84-81. But Point Park's Kameron Shockley was fouled on a three-point attempt with 41 seconds left and hit all three free throws to tie the game. Both teams missed three-point attempts in the final 25 seconds to send the game into overtime.

Tutunovic finished with 18 points, while Diaz and Smith added 16 points apiece. Forbes tallied 14 points, 10 rebounds and six of Salem's season-high 25 steals. Diaz, Hale and Tutunovic each had four steals. The game turned into a battle of attrition as four Tigers fouled out.

Sherron Schifino led five Point Park players in double figures with 24 points.

Salem returns to action Sunday as the Tigers travel to Slippery Rock University. Tip-off is 5 p.m.