SALISBURY, Md. – The Salisbury University men's basketball team earned an 88-66 victory over the Penn State Schuylkill Nittany Lions in the inaugural Fight for Ferguson game on Saturday evening at Maggs Physical Activities Center.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Sea Gulls got off to a hot start, scoring seven of the game's first nine points. Five of Salisbury's seven were scored by Jordan Oates in the run, giving SU a 7-2 lead with just under four minutes played.
• Penn State Schuylkill laid out an 8-3 run in rebuttal, tying the contest at 10-10, but the Sea Gulls dominated the remainder of the period, outscoring the Nittany Lions 35-9 across the final 12 minutes to tote a 45-19 lead into the locker room.
• Buddah Spencer led all scorers with eight points in that swing and Salisbury shot 66.7 percent (14-of-21) from the floor in the run.
• Oates powered the Sea Gulls out of intermission, outscoring Penn State 5-0 in the opening minute of the second stanza to widen the margin, 50-19. The Nittany Lions scored four straight before a 14-0 run spanning over four minutes put the Sea Gulls ahead by 41 points, their largest lead of the contest.
• Penn State scored the next six and found a 15-3 swing lasting just over four minutes after a pair of Leroy Hamilton baskets. With just under seven minutes to play, Salisbury held a 72-44 advantage.
• The visitors outscored Salisbury 22-16 down the stretch, but it was not enough to overcome the early deficit as the Sea Gulls snatched the 88-66 victory.

SALISBURY GAME NOTES

• Jordan Oates claimed the first Jack Ferguson MVP award, posting game-highs in points (22) and rebounds (8) in the victory.
• Leroy Hamilton was dialed in from range, posting a career-high 16 points on 4-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc. Hamilton also corralled four rebounds on the night.
• Calvin Thomas tallied 11 points and seven rebounds for Salisbury.
• Reed Rebstock posted eight points and seven rebounds, making a pair of three-pointers and adding a pair of steals as well.
• Brendan Davis finished with a team-high four assists. Cameron Heard, Buddah Spencer, Aidan Camper, and Kaiden Mines each dished out three dimes.
• The Sea Gulls shot 44.6 percent (33-of-74) from the floor, 37.5 percent (9-of-24) from three-point range, and 76.5 percent (13-of-17) from the free-throw line.

PENN STATE SCHUYLKILL GAME NOTES

• Amir Gray finished with a team-high 16 points in his first game with the Nittany Lions.
• Makhi Jones totaled 14 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals on the night.
• Bryce Hensley tacked on 11 points and five boards.
• The Nittany Lions shot 41.7 percent (25-of-60) from the field, 2-of-21 from beyond the arc, and 77.8 percent (14-of-18) from the charity stripe.

UP NEXT

• The Sea Gulls get a brief chance to rest and recuperate before traveling to face the Regent University Royals in Virginia Beach, Va. on Friday, Jan. 12.
• Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. from Bayside Baptist Church.

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Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with the New Jersey Athletic Conference for football and men's and women's swimming, and the Coastal Lacrosse Conference for men's lacrosse. With over 500 student-athletes in 21 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, featuring dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on and off the field. The Sea Gulls have celebrated 23 team national championships, 24 individual national champions, 197 conference championships, and 45 Academic All-Americans.

To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit www.SUSeaGulls.com or follow on social media @SUSeaGulls.