(SALEM, Mass.) - Salem State used runs of 12-0 and 13-1 in the first half to take control and defeat Lesley 92-68 Saturday afternoon at the O'Keefe Center. Four players scored in double figures, as the Vikings won their second straight and improved to 4-3. The Lynx, which had won two of three coming in, dropped to 2-4.

Lesley took an 11-8 lead on Matt Gibson's (Quincy, MA) three-pointer, but the Vikings scored the next dozen points to take a 20-11 advantage, as Justin Nieves (Lawrence, MA) scored a pair of hoops sandwiched in between three pointers by Tavone Wynder (Boston, MA)  and Andrew White (Medford, MA). 

The Lynx cut the deficit to three, 23-20, but SSU scored 13 of the next 14 points to take control for good. Trey Morin (Lee, MA) had the final six points of the run that gave Salem State its largest lead of the half, 36-21. The Vikings cruised into the locker room ahead 49-34.

A three-point play by White early in the second half boosted the lead to 20, and the margin grew to as many as 31 before the Vikings settled for the 24-point victory. Salem State shot a sizzling 53% from the floor (34-64), including 56% in the first half. The Vikings were 11-22 on three-point attempts and outrebounded Lesley 43-34.

Morin and Nicholas Grassa (Lynn, MA) paced the balanced Viking attack with 12 points apiece. Nieves had 11 while Hamed Akanni (Fitchburg, MA) added 10. The Lynx were led by Nikalus Oliver (Pembroke Pines, FL), who had 13 points and Valentine Emebo (Dorchester, MA) who had 12. 

Salem State continues its four-game homestand on Tuesday when the Vikings host WPI at 7 p.m. Lesley visits Regis College on Tuesday at 7:30.

-Release courtesy of Salem State Sports Information