SALEM, Mass. – Keenan Robertson assembled a 30-point, 14-rebound double-double to anchor Suffolk men's basketball to a 74-60 triumph over Salem State Tuesday night at Twohig Gymnasium. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 74 | Salem State 60
RECORDS: Suffolk (2-0) | Salem State (1-1)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Robertson controlled Suffolk's offensive output early to push the Rams in front two minutes into the action, 6-3. That lead was short lived as Salem State caught up and leveled the playing field at 8-all at the 15:15 mark. From there, the score tied three more times with the last coming at 15-15.  

The Rams rolled off nine straight points with a triple from Matt Draheim, back-to-back hoops from Jake Gomez and Robert capped off the run with a layup to give the blue-and-gold a 24-15 cushion with 8:51 to go in the opening half.  

Suffolk held onto the advantage the rest of the way and built it to double figures, 40-28, as the teams headed to the locker room.

The Vikings burst out of the break and cut the Rams lead down to seven, 42-35, over a 2:34 span.  

Suffolk rebuilt a double digit distance at the midway point of the second stanza, 56-44.   

It was cruise control for the Rams the rest of the way as kept the Vikings at a comfortable distance to lock up the 74-60 victory. 

STATISTICALLY SPEKAING

• Robertson contributed a 30-point, 14-rebound double-double. He shot 13-for-18 from the field and eight of his boards came on the defensive end. The senior's stat line featured three dimes, one block and one steal as well. 
• Matt Draheim had a standout showing off the bench. The sophomore supplied 18 points on a 5-for-9 performance from the floor that included a 4-for-7 effort from behind-the-arc. He added one carom to his effort. 
• Gomez added eight points, five assists and three rebounds. 
• Nick Verdile and Cole LeVangie added five points and one assist apiece. The former grabbed five rebounds, while the latter pulled down a pair of boards.
• Suffolk shot 42.4 percent (28-66) on the night and 64.7 percent (11-17) from the free throw line. 
• The Rams outrebounded the Vikings, 39-29.
• The blue-and-gold converted Salem State's 16 turnovers into 17 points. 
• The Rams also used their 18 offensive boards for 24 points on second chances. 
• Forty (40) of the Rams points came in the paint.   

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk defeated Salem State for the third straight meeting to take a 12-11 edge in the all-time series. 
• The three wins in a row over the Vikings is the most for Suffolk since it won five straight from Feb. 27, 1975-Feb. 23, 1978.
• Suffolk moved to 4-8 at Salem State in the all-time series. 
• Suffolk is now 3-1 versus Salem State with Jeff Juron on the bench. 
• Robertson is the first Ram to put up 30 points since Evan Cook dropped 30 in the 89-78 triumph at Roger Williams Jan. 20, 2024. 
• The 30-point performance is the fourth time in Robertson's career he hit the 30-point mark, first since he scored 30 against Wentworth Jan. 28, 2023.  
• Robertson tied a personal-best 13 field goals made. 
• Draheim had a career-night with personal-best numbers in field goals made (5), 3-point field goals made (4) and points (18). 
• Gomez tied a personal-best five assists. 
• Greg Keane had the first points of his collegiate career with a dunk. The sophomore also dished out the first assist of his career. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

Suffolk takes the weekend off to prep for its Tuesday, Nov. 19 tilt against Tufts at Larry E. and Michel S. Smith Court. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m.