Salem University scored on eight consecutive possessions during a first-half 22-0 run as the Tigers ended 2019 on a winning note with an 87-75 victory over Clarion University in NCAA Division II men's basketball Tuesday at Clarion, Pa. Jordan Forbes scored 22 of his game-high 25 points in the second half and pulled down 13 rebounds to end the decade with his fourth consecutive double-double. Shawn Christian and Fonz Hale each hit a three-pointer during the final 75 seconds to halt a late rally.
 
Salem (6-6) held an 8-7 lead when Marko Tutonovic's three-pointer with 14:47 left in the first half ignited the Tigers' scoring run. After a pair of layups, the Tigers connected on three-pointers on each of their next five possessions. Ralph Diaz hit a pair of three's and Tutonovic, Christian and Malique Ross also connected from beyond the arc to give Salem a 30-7 advantage with 11:04 remaining.
 
Clarion ended a five-minute scoring drought, but Salem built its biggest lead in the half at 43-19 on a Hale three-pointer with 4:10 left before halftime. The Tigers were limited to a field goal and a free throw the remainder of the half as a Jarrod Stukes layup just before the buzzer pulled Clarion within 46-32 at the break.
 
Clarion (2-9) got as close as 10 points early in the second half and had a chance to pull within single digits, but the Golden Eagles missed a free throw on a potential three-point play. Forbes drew a foul on a finger roll through the lane and converted a three-point play to give Salem a 53-40 lead with 16:43 left to play.
 
The margin again grew to 20 points when a charging foul was reversed and Tutonovic converted a three-point play to extend the Tigers' lead to 67-47 with 11:34 remaining. Salem continued to lead by double digits until Clarion rallied again in the final two minutes.
 
The Golden Eagles pulled within 78-70 on a three-pointer by Aaron Hilzendeger with 1:26 left. Christian answered 11 seconds later with a three from the right wing to push the margin back to 11. After a Jordan Agyemang three-point play cut Salem's lead back down to eight, Hale's three from the right wing just beat the shot clock to bring the margin back to double digits at 84-73 with 34 seconds remaining. Hale added three free throws to seal the win.
 
Tutunovic finished with 18 points, while Hale added 14 points off the bench. Christian had 12 points and Ross scored 10 points. Diaz joined Forbes in double figures on the boards with 10 rebounds.
 
Mason Mraz led Clarion with 24 points.
 
Salem has two more away contests this week, Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Urbana University and Sunday at 2 p.m. at Notre Dame College (Ohio). The Tigers have their first home contest in more than a month next Tuesday against Central State University.