Jordan Forbes and Marko Tutunovic each posted a double-double as Salem University extended its winning streak to eight with a 72-61 victory over Seton Hill University in NCAA Division II men's basketball Wednesday at Greensburg, Pa. The Tigers led the entire second half and withstood a number of Griffin challenges to secure the win.
 
After layups by Forbes and Fonz Hale gave Salem (15-7) a double-digit lead, Seton Hill (4-17) used three-pointers by Kealen Coats and Nathan Davis in a span of 32 seconds to pull within 51-47 with 13:05 left to play. The two teams exchanged a pair of field goals Malique Ross's three-point play on a putback off a missed three-pointer helped push the Tigers' lead back to double figures at 65-53 with 4:27 remaining.
 
Tutunovic answered a Seton Hill three-pointer with a three of his own from the top of the key with 3:51 left and the margin stayed at double figures the remainder of the contest.
                                                                                
An early 13-8 lead turned into a three-point deficit before Ross's three-pointer with 7:30 left in the first half put Salem on top 20-18 and gave the Tigers the lead for good. Stan Smith knocked down back-to-back three's from the left side and contributed eight straight Tiger points to a 19-5 run to give Salem its biggest lead of the half at 34-23 with 2:51 remaining.
 
In a near repeat of last Thursday's win when Chowan scored the last 13 points of the half against the Tigers, Seton Hill put together a 10-0 run to pull within a point with less than a minute left. Shawn Christian, who hit a three for Salem's last points two minutes earlier, got the benefit of a couple soft bounces off the rim for another three-pointer with 28 seconds left.
 
The Tigers had a chance to add a late basket after Marko Tutunovic stole the ball in the lane and made a long outlet pass for a fast-break opportunity. But Seton Hill's Samuel Tabe blocked a layup attempt with four seconds left and Salem settled for a 37-33 halftime lead.
 
Christian kept his three-pointer streak going on Salem's opening possession of the second half.  Hale followed with a free throw and a layup to end a streak of 17 consecutive Tiger points scored by Smith and Christian as the margin returned to double figures at 47-36 with 16:07 left in the contest.
 
Forbes finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Tutunovic added 11 points and 10 rebounds. Each player also dished out five assists. Tutunovic made five steals and Forbes, Hale and Ralph Diaz each had three steals as the Tigers recorded a season-high 17 steals as a team. Christian finished with 12 points and Hale added 10 points.
 
Davis led Seton Hill with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
 
Salem travels to Oakland City, Ind., this weekend for a pair of games against Oakland City University. The two teams play each other Friday at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and face off again Saturday at 2 p.m. (Eastern).