SALISBURY, Md. - The Salisbury University men's
basketball team snapped its 12-game losing streak with a thrilling
72-70 victory over Marymount (Va.) University on Saturday afternoon
before a crowd of 205 at the Maggs Center.
This is Salisbury's first victory since Nov. 20, 2007 and its
first win in the Capital Athletic Conference this season.
Salisbury (3-13, 1-6 CAC) sophomore Wesley
Sweet (15 points) hit a lay-up in the paint with six
seconds left to break the fourth tie in the game. Saint guard
Stephen Simoneau heaved a three-pointer as time expired but
couldn't find the bottom of the net as the Sea Gulls erupted into
jubilation.
"It feels great," said Salisbury coach Steve
Holmes. "It has been a long time since we last won. The
guys have been working very, very hard for this. I am really happy
for them."
The Sea Gulls had to stave off a Saint run down the stretch in
the second half. The Saints (8-7, 3-4 CAC) went on a 10-0 run in
four minutes to knot the game at 68 apiece with 1:18 left in the
game.
SU senior forward Jonas Vaitkus (11 points,
eight rebounds) made a lay-up with 46 seconds left in the game to
give the Sea Gulls a 70-68 lead. Vaitkus' bucket was the first for
maroon and gold since the 5:01 mark when Sweet made a layup.
The Saints answered back 26 seconds later as forward Fred
Stanback (14 points, seven rebounds) hit a jumper to tie the game
at 70. Marymount quickly called a timeout after the bucket to
set-up its defense to try and force overtime.
Last season, the two teams played a five-overtime game in the
Maggs Center where the Saints won 126-122. The five-overtime
periods tied a NCAA Division III record.
"I feel like I can breathe now," said Salisbury's Greg
Palmer, about ending the losing streak. "We stayed
positive throughout the game and kept playing until the end."
Palmer had a big hand in the victory for the maroon and gold as
he scored a game-high 27 points, 14 of which came in the second
half. The sophomore guard added five rebounds, four blocks and
three assists in the win.
The Sea Gulls trailed 43-38 at the half but came out with a high
intensity in the second half. Salisbury went on 15-4 run to regain
the lead 52-47 with 13 minutes to play.
Stanback reached a personal milestone at the 4:41 mark in the
second half as his three-pointer gave him 1,000 points for his
career.
Salisbury shot 48.3 percent from the field and was solid from
the free-throw line as the Sea Gulls shot 84.6 percent (11-of-13).
Marymount guard Shaun Ingram led the Saints with 18 points in
the loss. The Saints shot 45.5 percent from the field and was 37.5
percent from three-point range.
This was the first game of a three-game homestand for the Sea
Gulls. Salisbury will return to action on Wednesday, January 23, at
7:30 p.m. to face Hood College in a CAC game.
