FREDERICK, Md. – The Salisbury University men's basketball team picked up a pivotal 57-52 Capital Athletic Conference victory over host Hood College on Wednesday night.

With the victory the Sea Gulls (11-13, 6-9 CAC) are still in contention for the sixth and final spot in the upcoming CAC tournament (Feb. 22-26). Salisbury and Frostburg State University are currently tied in the standings, as the Bobcats (11-13, 6-9 CAC) defeated Marymount (Va.) University 70-65 in overtime on Wednesday evening.

The Sea Gulls captured the game's first points, as senior guard Eric Johnson made a jumper at the 18:19 mark. The Blazers (13-12, 8-8 CAC) responded with a made three-pointer from Cameron Cook to take their first lead of the contest. Hood outscored Salisbury 23-19 to close out the first half of action. Senior guard David Pearman led the way for SU, as he scored a team-high eight points in the first frame, while Hood forward Tyler Snoots posted 11 points to pace the Blazers.

Midway through the second half, the game appeared to be slipping away from the Sea Gulls as they trailed 43-32 following a made three-pointer by the Blazer's Herb Bowen, but the maroon and gold came alive from that point on. Junior guard Mike Atkins kicked things off with a made three-pointer to start the run; a made jumper by Johnson with 4:41 remaining in the contest gave the team its first lead since the 9:36 mark of the first half. With the score knotted at 51-51 with 2:32 left to play, junior forward Mike Maczko drained a three-point attempt to hand SU a 54-51 lead; Salisbury converted three free-throw attempts to close out the contest, including a pair by junior guard Devin Posey.

Johnson led the Sea Gulls to victory with a career-high 19 points; he also pulled down five rebounds. Pearman chipped in with 10 points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds in the contest.

The Blazers received a double-double from Snoots, as the forward scored a team-high 16 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Cook was the only other player on the Hood roster to finish with a double-digit point total, as he finished with 12 points.

The Sea Gulls are set to close out the regular season on the road at York (Pa.) College (16-8, 10-5 CAC) this Saturday at 2 p.m.  Frostburg State meanwhile will travel to No. 15 St. Mary's (Md.) College (19-5, 13-2 CAC) for its final contest of the regular season.