WHEELING, WV – Despite a much-improved second-half shooting performance, the Salem Tigers (6-10) were unable to overcome an early deficit, falling 85-69 to the Wheeling Cardinals at the Alma McDonough Center on Wednesday night.
Early Struggles Prove Costly
The Tigers found themselves in an immediate hole as Wheeling opened the game on an 8-0 run. Salem struggled to find their rhythm in the first half, shooting just 29% from the field and 16.7% from beyond the arc. The Cardinals capitalized on these struggles, building a 40-30 lead by halftime.
Second Half Spark
Salem returned from the locker room with renewed energy, nearly doubling their first-half field goal percentage to a sharp 55.6%. Eman Lawal led the charge, finishing the night with a team-high 19 points and 8 rebounds. Jamari Gamble also played a pivotal role in the comeback effort, recording a double-double with 17 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
However, every Tiger run was met with a response from the Cardinals. Wheeling's bench proved to be a major factor, outscoring Salem's reserves 35-10. Jerry Saunders Jr. paced the Wheeling bench with 14 points, including four three-pointers that helped keep the Tigers at arm's length.
Battle in the Paint
One of the bright spots for Salem was their physical play inside. The Tigers dominated the paint, outscoring Wheeling 44-32 in the restricted area. They also remained competitive on the boards, trailing the Cardinals by only three total rebounds (40-37).
Key Tiger Stats
While the Tigers showed resilience by outscoring Wheeling in the paint and finding their shot late, 17 points off turnovers and 25 second-chance points for the Cardinals ultimately secured the win for the home team.
Salem will look to carry their second-half offensive momentum forward as they continue their DII Independent schedule.
