Salem, MA -- Salem State's Tristian Shannon (Andover, MA) posted a double-double with a game-high 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead an 81-68 Viking victory over the No. 4 seed Westfield State Owls in the semi-finals of the MASCAC tournament at James Twohig Gymnasium. It was 16th consecutive win for the Vikings who improve to 20-6.

The No.1 seed Vikings will now match-up against No. 3 Bridgewater State at home Saturday at 2 p.m for the MASCAC championship. The winner will earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III tournament.

Westfield State finished the 2011 season with a 12-15 record.

The Vikings and Owls traded baskets for most of the first half. Salem State held a 17-16 lead with 7:27 to go, but finished the half on a tear outscoring Westfield State 20-8. Shannon sparked the run with a pair of three-pointers to open up a 37-24 Viking lead at the intermission.

The Owls who only sat two of their starters for a combined six minutes in the opening period shot 36.7% from the field compared to 50% by the 10-man rotation Vikings.

Salem State never looked back in the second half as their lead never dropped to fewer than 10 points. MASCAC player of the year Brian Clark (Deerfield, MA) hit a jumper to put the Vikings ahead by 19 points, 63-44 with just over eight minutes to go, as Salem State cruised to a postseason victory.

Clark finished with 14 points and had 8 rebounds for the Vikings. Nick Linear (Salem, MA) played an outstanding game off the bench. The senior shot 5-for-6 from the field for 13 points in just 13 minutes of action.

Sophomore guard Lee Vazquez (Woonsocket, RI) led the Owls with 17 points and three assists. Sophomore center Matt Devine (Pembroke, MA) added 16 points and seven rebounds while. Jesse Benoit (Granby, MA) grabbed 10 boards and scored eight points for Westfield State.

Salem State shot 58% (14-24) in the second half and held the Owls to 40% (27-67) shooting for the game as the Vikings swept all three matchups from Westfield State this year.

North Adams, MA- Led by senior center Samuel Johnson's 23 points and 14 rebounds, the 3^rd seeded Bridgewater State Bears defeated 2^nd seeded MCLA 88-80 in the Amsler Campus Center on the campus of MCLA.  With the win, the Bears (18-9) will move on to Saturday's MASCAC championship game, looking to defend their title from a year ago.  MCLA (16-9) will await a potential ECAC berth.

Johnson led a balanced attack in an up tempo game.  Aside from Johnson, Bridgewater placed four others in double figures.  MCLA was led by Brendan Kordana's 23 points.  The Trailblazers played without All MASCAC first team selection, Jon Greenberg, who is out for the season with a knee injury.

MCLA jumped out of gates quickly scoring the first ten points of the night.  The Bears would respond with a 13-2 burst over the next four minutes to take a slim 13-12 lead with 13:08 left until halftime.  Bridgewater would expand the lead to eight points at 22-14 before MCLA answered with a run of their own.  The Trailblazers used a 9-0 spurt capped by a Brendan Kordana triple to take a 23-22 advantage.  The Bears once again answered, this time outscoring MCLA 17-8 over the final six minutes to take a 40-34 lead into the locker room.  Bridgewater's Corey Connor scored all 12 of his points in the opening half, all of which were behind the arc.

MCLA never led in the second half, though they did cut the margin to 49-47 just 2:13 into the half when Benny Cuprill knocked down a pair of three's, while Ramon Viches putback pulled MCLA within a pair.  The Bears responded though with a quick 14-2 run to build a commanding 63-49 lead with just under twelve minutes remaining.

The hosts would cut the lead to seven on a Tyriq Rochester jumper making it 68-61 but MCLA would get no closer the rest of the way.  Bridgewater would push the lead to 16 with under five minutes to play and were never threatened down the stretch.

Johnson collected his double double on 6-10 shooting, including an 11-13 performance from the charity stripe.  He was joined in double figures by Judah Jackson and Nicholas Motta, each of whom finished with 14 points.  Jackson added five assists.  Connor did not score in the second period to finish with 12, while Anthony Fortes came off the bench to add 10.

Kordana finished 10-17 from the floor including a pair of triples.  Viches would finish with 16 points and 9 rebounds, while Jamal Brown added a double double of 12 points and 11 boards.  Benny Cuprill added 10 points and 5 assists.