Vikings Clip Beacons, 85-77

Jose Rodriguez '24, Staff Writer | Media & Communications 

SALEM, Mass.- Michael Makiej (Andover, Mass.) and Jaden Castillo (Lawrence, Mass.) combined for 50 points on the night to give Salem State the 85-77 victory over UMass. Boston. The Vikings improved to 5-5 with the victory, while the Beacons dropped to 2-9.  

Makiej had another impressive performance, notching a double- double with 35 points (11-19FG) and 13 rebounds while Castillo netted 15 of his own. Teammate, LJ Hicks (Gardner, Mass.) dished out four assists on the night.

Emanuel Zayas (Hollywood, Fla.) led the Beacons with 25 points while Dom Shaw (Hollywood, Fla.) pulled in a team-high seven rebounds and Alex Woolery (Barnstable, Mass.)  added three assists in the effort.

Th game remained scoreless for the opening two minutes before Beacons' guard, Clayton McLaren (Brockton, Mass.), went 1-2 from the free throw line to notch the night's first point. Hicks responded with a jumper of his own to give the Vikings their first basket shortly after. As the game progressed, UMass Boston went on a 6-0 run, before the Vikings countered with an 11-2 run, to give them the 17-12 lead with just under ten minutes to play in the half. The Vikings extended their lead to seven points before forcing the Beacons' hand at a timeout. 

After the timeout, the Vikings continued to dominate, increasing their cushion to nine with five minutes left on the clock. With 3:28 to play in the half Castillo and Makiej scored back-to-back three-pointers, to push their lead to 16 which the Vikings would be able to hold onto to head into the break with 46-30 advantage.

At the half, Makiej led the Vikings with 15 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Castillo also had an impressive first half performance, going 3-4 from beyond the arc. On the other hand, McLaren led the Beacons with six points and four rebounds, while Woolery chipped in with four rebounds. 

At the start of the second half the Beacons split a trip the charity stripe before the Vikings responded with a three-point play from Makiej. As the half went on Salem State saw their lead shrink, as a 13-1 Beacon run made it a nine-point game and forced the Vikings to use a timeout.

Omri Merryman (Lynn, Mass.) was the answer coming out of the timeout as he scored seven unanswered points of his own to bring the score to 59-47 in favor of the Vikings. The Beacons made it interesting by going on a 14-7 run, but despite the Beacons' best efforts, the Vikings managed to keep their distance thanks to an 11-0 run, with more than half those points coming from Makiej. With three minutes left on the clock, Salem State had an 11-point lead, which would be enough to carry them to the 85-77 victory over the Beacons.

Salem State will close out the fall semester at home this Saturday, December 16, as they welcome the Panthers of Plymouth State University for a 1p.m. tipoff.