SALEM, W.Va. – In a high-octane matchup at the T. Edward Davis Gymnasium on Wednesday evening, the Salem University men's basketball team fell to West Liberty University with a final score of 121-87. Despite the loss, the Tigers showcased significant offensive depth and transition play against a nationally-ranked opponent.

West Liberty's efficient shooting in the first half set a fast pace, but Salem responded with a resilient second-half effort, outscoring their own first-half total by 11 points.

Top Performers for Salem

• Jamari Gamble: Led the Tigers with a standout 30-point performance off the bench. He shot 10-of-17 from the field, including three makes from beyond the arc, and was nearly perfect from the free-throw line (7-of-9).

• Eman Lawal: Contributed 17 points and 6 rebounds, while also facilitating the offense with 4 assists.

• Zeke Birchett: Was highly efficient, scoring 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting while grabbing 5 rebounds.

• Xavier Price: Rounded out the double-digit scorers with 12 points and a team-high 7 rebounds.

Key Game Insights The game was a battle of interior strength and speed, with Salem recording 52 points in the paint and 26 fast-break points. The Tigers' bench was a major factor throughout the night, accounting for 34 of the team's total points, largely driven by Gamble's scoring burst. Defensively, Justin Fisher led the team in disrupts with 3 steals. While West Liberty's perimeter shooting (15 made three-pointers) ultimately widened the gap, Salem's aggressive play earned them 22 trips to the free-throw line.