FAIRMONT, WV - The Tigers (3-11) traveled to Fairmont tonight for a regular season game against the Falcons (12-2) of Fairmont State University. Salem looked to bounce back after a tough road loss against West Virginia State University.

It was the Tigers who jumped out early on Fairmont State. Salem's starters were clicking from the opening tip and in seemingly no time had opened up a 9-2 lead over the Falcons. Fairmont managed to string together a few buckets to close the gap to three, but the Tigers responded in kind and ballooned their lead back up to eight. It was a late triple from Fairmont State that closed the gap to five before the break with the Tigers leading 14-9.

In the second quarter, it seemed the Falcons had shaken off the rust. Their offense kicked into gear and they began to find the bottom of the basket. In contrast, the Tiger offense had slowed from their previous success in the first quarter. Halfway into the second Fairmont held the lead over Salem 20-18. Emerson Wells hit two big threes to give the lead back to the Tigers before the half 26-24. 

Coming out of the half Salem's defense struggled against the adjustments the Falcons made at the break. Fairmont went on to have their highest-scoring quarter of the game, putting up 23 points in the period of play. Salem's offense was able to keep them in the game. With no one player in particular it was a true team effort. The Tigers collaborated for 15 points in the quarter to take a six-point deficit into the fourth quarter 47-41.

Starting the fourth quarter down six the Tigers knew scoring was a priority and they had no problem with that. However in order to cut into that lead they needed to produce stops on the defensive end and those were proving hard to come by. In the end, the Tigers got outpaced by the Falcons and lost 58-67. 

Salem will be back at home on Saturday, January 20th at 2:00 pm when they will host the Bobcats of Frostburg State University.

SALEM STAT LEADERS

Points: Cassandra Smith (18)

Assists: Carine Pinkney (5)

Rebounds: Elena Pericic (11)

Blocks: Elena Pericic (3)