The win snapped a 16-game losing streak versus the Vikings. The last time the Bears defeated Salem was the 1999 MASCAC championship game when BSC earned a berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament with a 68-62 road win over the Vikings. Bridgewater’s last home victory over SSC came on February 20th of 1997, a 64-63 win.
Junior guard Adam Rose (Harwich, MA) led a late second half BSC rally as the Bears went on a 10-0 run after trailing 70-63 with 6:07 left in the game. Rose started the run with a driving lay-up and followed that up with a three-pointer to cut the lead to 70-68 with 4:54 on the game clock. Former Viking and current Bear Tyler Lang (Franklin, MA) then gave BSC their first lead of the game as he connected on a straightaway trifecta to put Bridgewater in front, 71-70. Rose then drove in for another lay-up to increase the lead to three.
Salem junior forward Eric Downie (Medford, MA) cut the lead to 73-72 with 3:04 left to play as he connected for the Vikings only field goal of the final six minutes. After neither team scored for nearly a two minute stretch, Bridgewater State sophomore guard Tom Cuddihy (Scituate, MA) connected on a pair of free throw attempts to give BSC a three-point edge, 75-72 with just over a minute to go. Cuddihy then hit on one of two foul shots to make it 76-72.
On Salem’s ensuing possession, Downie answered with a pair of free throws to get the lead down to two. The Vikings promptly fouled and got the break they needed when the Bears hit on only one of two foul shots. SSC had two shots at tying the game at the end, but couldn’t find the mark.
Rose connected for 15 points on 6 of 9 shooting, while Cuddihy finished with a game-high 17 points. Cuddihy hit on 4 of 8 from three-point land. As a team the Bears shot 60% (9-for-15) from beyond the arc, including 6-for-8 in the second half.
Downie posted a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds (8 offensive). Junior center Joseph Walker (Waltham, MA) added 15 points off the bench for the Vikings who led 39-31 at the half and by as many as 16 points.
The Bears are home once again on Saturday as they take on MASCAC rival Fitchburg State at 5 o’clock. Salem is home against Worcester State on Saturday afternoon at 3.
Newspaper Box Score Salem State College vs Bridgewater State College 01/26/06 8:00 PM at Bridgewater, MA (Tinsley Center) BRIDGEWATER STATE COLLEGE 77, SALEM STATE COLLEGE 74 SALEM STATE COLLEGE 11-6 (4-1) Eric Downie 6-19 3-3 15; Joseph Walker 7-11 1-2 15; Dylan Holmes 4-4 4-4 12; Marty Harrington 4-8 0-0 12; Brandon McCombs 2-6 4-5 8; Wilkins Victor 2-9 0-2 5; Alex Finn 1-1 0-0 3; Isaiah Bradshaw 1-1 0-0 2; Ramon Cruz 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 28-62 12-16 74. BRIDGEWATER STATE COLLEGE 9-7 (3-2) Tom Cuddihy 5-14 3-4 17; Adam Rose 6-9 2-2 15; Cliff Furtado 5-10 2-3 14; Derek Thompson 3-12 5-7 11; Tyler Lang 3-6 0-0 7; David Rukstalis 2-6 2-4 7; Roland Millien 0-1 4-4 4; Damian Shakespeare 1-2 0-0 2; Bryan Grozier 0-0 0-0 0; Jesse Teixeira 0-1 0-0 0; Ryan Devereaux 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-61 18-24 77. Salem State College........... 39 35 - 74 Bridgewater State College..... 31 46 - 77 3-point goals-Salem State College 6-15 (Marty Harrington 4-5; Wilkins Victor 1-6; Alex Finn 1-1; Ramon Cruz 0-1; Eric Downie 0-2), Bridgewater State College 9-15 (Tom Cuddihy 4-8; Cliff Furtado 2-4; Adam Rose 1-1; David Rukstalis 1-1; Tyler Lang 1-1). Fouled out--Salem State College-Brandon McCombs; Marty Harrington, Bridgewater State College-Tyler Lang. Rebounds-Salem State College 35 (Eric Downie 11), Bridgewater State College 36 (Derek Thompson 9). Assists-Salem State College 15 (Eric Downie 5), Bridgewater State College 15 (Tom Cuddihy 6). Total fouls-Salem State College 25, Bridgewater State College 13. A-525