Salem University hopes a 10-day hiatus doesn't take away any of the momentum from its current three-game winning streak as the Tigers travel to Bluefield, W.Va., this afternoon to take on Bluefield State College in NCAA Division II men's basketball. Tip-off is 4 p.m. and is the second game of a doubleheader with Tiger women's basketball at Bluefield State.
 
Salem (10-7) is playing for the first time since an 88-72 victory at Central State University January 15. The win was the Tigers' second in eight days over the Marauders. Shawn Christian scored 23 points, while Ralph Diaz, Jordan Forbes and Marko Tutunovic each posted a double-double as Salem University pulled away in the second half after trailing by a basket at halftime.
 
Sandwiched in between the two wins against Central State, Salem set three school scoring records in its 142-75 win over Cheyney University. The Tigers established new records for most points in a game and in a half (79 in the first half), both of which had been previously set during the 2018-19 season. The 67-point margin of victory broke a record set during the 1996-97 season.
 
Bluefield State (9-8) also enters today's contest on a three-game winning streak after defeating Shaw University 92-81 Wednesday.
 
The Tigers and the Big Blues split their two meetings last year, each team winning on its homecourt. Salem plays host to Bluefield State February 22.
 
Saturday's contest is the second of four consecutive away games for the Tigers. Salem has rematches at Ohio Valley University and Cheyney before returning home to play host to Chowan University February 6 at 1 p.m. in a rare weekday matinee contest.