ELKINS, W.Va. – The Salem University men's basketball team (4-4) showed resilience with an explosive second-half offensive performance but ultimately fell to Davis & Elkins (4-5), 74-58, on the road Wednesday evening.

The Tigers delivered a dominant offensive display in the second half, outscoring the Senators 41-37 and shooting an outstanding 55.2% from the field, but they were unable to recover from a challenging first half.

Lawal Leads Three in Double Figures

Forward Eman Lawal led the charge for Salem, playing a full 40 minutes and posting a team-high 20 points. Lawal was highly efficient, shooting 6-of-9 from the floor, including 3-of-4 from three-point range. He also anchored the defense with six rebounds and two blocks.

Two other Tigers reached double-digit scoring:

• Xavier Price finished with 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting, adding three assists, two blocks, and a steal.

• Zahki Fallen contributed 10 points for the night.

Additionally, Justin Fisher led the team on the glass with eight rebounds, while Carl Toomer provided an all-around effort with six points, six rebounds, and a team-high four assists.

A Game of Halves

The contest was decided by a cold start in the opening period. Salem struggled to find the net, shooting just 14.3% in the first half and trailing 37-17 at the break.

However, the team showcased their potential in the second half, exploding for 41 points on 55.2% shooting, demonstrating the offensive firepower needed for future contests.

The difference in the game came down to ball security, as Salem finished the night with 23 turnovers, which the Senators converted into 32 points.

Davis & Elkins was led by Nnadozie Okoroji's 15 points and strong three-point shooting from Tristan Starks, who hit four of his six attempts from deep.

Next time up, the Tigers host West Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday, December 13th.