SALISBURY, Md. - The Salisbury University men's
basketball team kept its postseason hopes alive in the Capital
Athletic Conference Saturday afternoon as they defeated the
Mustangs of Villa Julie College, 79-72, on Senior Day in front of a
crowd of 451 at the Maggs Center.
The maroon and gold have won two straight and look to add two
more this week as they conclude their regular-season schedule with
two road contests. SU is currently in a three-way tie with
Gallaudet University and Villa Julie for seventh place as the teams
fight for the final two CAC playoff spots.
SU seniors Jonas Vaitkus (23 points, five
rebounds, three assists), Gary Ward (22 points, 10
rebounds) and Todd Ostrom (six points, four
rebounds) combined for 51 points in their last regular-season home
appearance. Ward recorded his second double-double in three games
as he led the team in rebounds. SU had four players reach double
digits in the game including Vaitkus, Ward, juniors Brandon
Abney (12 points) and Sean Whittaker (10
points). The Gulls dominated the paint as they poured in 26 points
and outrebounded VJC by 12, 40-28.
Salisbury (6-17, 4-10 CAC) came out strong defensively as they
held the VJC (6-17, 4-10 CAC) offense to just 27 percent shooting
in the first half (8-for-29). SU found its stride early as they
shot 44 percent from the field and took an eight-point lead into
the break, 30-22.
The Sea Gulls saw their halftime lead dwindle in the second half
as Villa Julie took advantage of its outside shooting as the
Mustangs drained 6-of-12 from behind the three-point line. The
Mustangs went on an 8-1 run in a matter of three minutes led by
freshman Matt Leddy's two three-pointers to tie the game at 45 with
11:40 to play.
The two traded baskets before Ward carried the Sea Gulls with
seven consecutive points at the five-minute mark to give Salisbury
a 65-55 lead. Salisbury never looked back as it recorded the second
highest shooting percentage from the floor in a second half this
season (65.4 percent).
Villa Julie was lead offensively by sophomore Gregory Woody who
recorded a game-high 28 points. Freshman Greg Collins also reached
the double figures for the Mustangs with 13 points. VJC outscored
Salisbury in the second half, 50-49, but could not overcome the
Gulls' stingy defense as the Mustangs lost their seventh game in
the past eight contests.
The Sea Gulls can guarantee themselves a spot in the postseason
with wins over Marymount (Va.) University on Wednesday, February
20, and Hood College next Saturday (February 23). Salisbury
defeated Marymount on January 19, 72-70, and Hood on January 23,
81-67.
