Shawn Christian and Jordan Forbes combined for all of the points in a game-breaking 18-0 run midway through the second half as Salem University defeated Glenville State College 103-92 in NCAA Division II men's basketball Thursday at Glenville, W.Va. Christian and Forbes each scored nine points during the run to turn a one-point game into a 19-point advantage and help the Tigers maintain the lead the entire second half.
 
Forbes scored 22 of his game-high 33 points in the second half and flirted with a triple-double with 12 rebounds and eight assists. Christian hit eight 3-pointers to account for all of his 24 points.
 
After leading by six at halftime, Salem (5-6) built a 14-point advantage as Forbes sandwiched baskets around fastbreak layups by Malique Ross and Marko Tutonovic during an 8-0 run to give the Tigers a 58-44 lead with 18:04 left to play. Glenville State used a pair of long-range three-pointers to get as close as four points, but a pair of three-point plays by Tutonovic and a Ross three-pointer helped the Tigers build the margin to 69-62 with 14:18 remaining.
 
Glenville State (8-3) pulled within a single point after back-to-back three-pointers by Noah Frampton and Phil Bledsoe. But Salem would hold the Pioneers scoreless over the next five minutes to break the game open. Glenville State entered Thursday's contest ranked second in the nation in scoring offense with more than 100 points per game.
 
Forbes scored underneath to start the run and Christian followed with a pair of three-pointers, the second coming after a steal by Ralph Diaz. Forbes put the lead back to double figures with a steal and fastbreak layup with 10:50 remaining. Another steal by Forbes led to a Christian three-points and Christian returned the favor with a steal to set up a Forbes three to complete the scoring run and give Salem its biggest lead at 87-68 with 9:57 left to play.
 
The Pioneers rallied to bring the margin back to single digits, but never got closer than eight points the rest of the way. Salem hit 7-of-9 free throws in the final two-plus minutes. Ross's free throw with 1:06 left put the Tigers at the century mark for the second time this season.
 
The first half saw three ties and seven lead changes before back-to-back three-pointers by Christian put the Tigers on top 39-34 with 4:12 left before halftime. Glenville State got within a field goal, but a dunk by Forbes and another Christian three-pointer gave Salem its biggest lead of the half at 44-37 with 3:05 remaining.
 
Glenville State again got as close as a basket, but Stan Smith scored the final four points of the half to give Salem a 48-42 halftime lead.
 
Tutunovic was 6-for-7 from the field in the second half for 15 of his 17 total points, while Ross added 15 points. Christian narrowly missed a double-double of his own, finishing with eight rebounds. The Tigers outrebounded the Pioneers 43-40.
 
Bledsoe led six Glenville State players in double figures with 24 points to go with 10 rebounds.
 
Salem is off for Christmas Break, then the Tigers return to action December 31 at Clarion University.