Bridgewater State Bests Salem Salem State in MASCAC Opener

Jose Rodriguez '24, Staff Writer | Media & Communications 

SALEM, Mass. -- Emerson Halbleib (Carmel, Ind.) and Zach Taylor (Quincy, Mass.) combined for 32 points, giving Bridgewater State a 96-82 win over Salem State in their Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) opener on Wednesday evening at Twohig Gymnasium. The Bears improve to 5-8, 1-0 while the Vikings drop to 6-6. 0-1.   

Halbleib led the team with an impressive 17 points and nine rebounds, while Dante Kikuba (Framingham, Mass.) contributed with seven assists and three steals. Meanwhile, Taylor went 5-9 from the field for 15 points. For Salem State, Jaden Castillo (Lawrence, Mass.)  and Burke Kennedy (Brooklyn, N.Y.)  were the high scorers, with both contributing 16 points each. Michael Makiej (Andover, Mass.) and Josh Coffey (Norton, Mass.) recorded seven rebounds each, while Coffey led the Vikings with three steals, and Liam Byrne (Melrose, Mass.) four blocks.

The game began with Salem State taking an early lead, going on a 10-4 run that was highlighted by Castillo's eight points. As the game progressed, LJ Hicks (Gardner, Mass.) managed to bang in a three, increasing the lead to 13-7. The Bears made it interesting, bringing the score to 13-11, but the Vikings quickly answered back when Hicks found Byrne for a layup. 

The Bears followed with a 9-0 run, which was highlighted by Halbleib scoring six of those points.  Bridgewater State then went on a 10-0 run as the score was 36-23 in favor of the Bears. 

The Vikings were looking to get back into the game heading into the final four minutes of the first half, but Salem State went into their locker room down by 24 with Bridgewater State holding a 56-32 lead. 

In the second half, Halbleib led the Bears with 13 points as he went 5-7 from the field. Kikuba contributed with five assists, while Kikuba and Josh Campbell (Plymouth, Mass.) grabbed five rebounds each. For the Vikings, Castillo led the team with eight points and Byrne had four rebounds, as well as an impressive three blocks. 

The Vikings were looking for a second-half comeback, and Makiej started the scoring with a two-pointer, followed by a Castillo basket. Salem State found themselves down 66-39 before the Vikings went on a 6-0 run. Will Martinez  (Revere, Mass.) knocked down a three from the left side to put the score at 76-56 before the Bears heaed into the final ten minutes of the game with an 84-60 lead. 

Coffey managed to score on a layup to put the score at 93-75, but unfortunately the Bears came away with a 96-82 victory. The Bears ended the contest 35-of-68 (50.1%) from the floor and held their largest lead of the game, 66-39 after a made three by Justin Parsons (Portsmouth, R.I.).

Looking ahead, Salem State will be looking to bounce back on Wednesday night January 20 as they take on Framingham State on the road for a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) contest. Tipoff is at 7 p.m.