SALEM, W.Va. – The Salem University men's basketball team held off Davis and Elkins for a 84-81 victory, at T. Edward Davis Gymnasium, Monday night.
 
With the win, the Tigers improve to 15-8, while Davis and Elkins drops to 6-16.
 
The Tigers shot 43.1 percent from the field (28-65), while D&E shot 46.3 percent from the field (31-67). Salem outshot the Senators from the free throw line, as the Tigers were 60.7 percent (17-28) to D&E's 55.6 percent (10-18).
 
The Tigers outrebounded the Senators 36-32, while Salem also posted more assists 17-11.
 
Senior Malik Toppin led the way for the Tigers, notching a game-high 26 points, grabbing eight rebounds, blocking three shots and collecting four steals, while freshman Fonz Hale added 19 points and dished out four assists.
 
Senior Showan Faltz recorded a season-high 14 points with four rebounds, while senior Christopher Shields scored 11 with eight rebounds.
 
Salem started the game off hot as they jumped out to a 6-0 behind an alley-oop from Hale to Toppin to get the crowd going early.
 
Hale found Shields for a shot behind the arc to extend Salem's lead 16-4 at 14:55 in the first half.
 
With 46 seconds remaining until the half, Faltz connected on a layup to give Salem its largest lead of the game of 19 points, 45-26.
 
Salem led the Senators 45-30 at intermission.
 
In the second half, Davis and Elkins cut the lead to six, 50-44 with 14:19 remaining in the game. Salem then pushed the lead to 13 after a made free throw from Shields for a 59-46 lead at 12:32.
 
The Senators cut the lead to three after a made three-pointer with 4:01 remaining in the game, as Salem led 75-72.
 
With under a minute, D&E's Marcus Friend hit two acrobatic three's to keep the game tight, but Shields knocked down two clutch free throws with five seconds remaining as Salem led 84-81.
 
The Senators had one last chance to tie the game, but the shot came up short for a Tiger victory.
 
The Tigers are back in action Wednesday as they host Clarion at 7:00 p.m.