Salisbury tames Mustangs with 77-66 win, remain tied for fourth in CAC

STEVENSON, Md. - The Salisbury University men's basketball team capped off its two-game road trip with a 77-66 victory over Stevenson University on Saturday afternoon in a Capital Athletic Conference contest. With the victory, the Sea Gulls are currently tied for fourth place in the CAC heading into the last week of the regular season with Marymount (Va.) University.

Salisbury (10-13, 7-7 CAC) was led by sophomore forward Ryan Hourihan as he recorded his third double-double of the season with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Sophomore center Chris McGrew (nine points) pulled down a season-high 13 rebounds and just missed out on his first double-double of the season. Salisbury had three other players' record double-digit point efforts as juniors Devin Jones, Greg Palmer and Ronald Mann scored 15, 14, and 11 points respectively. Junior Drew Dickson provided a spark off the bench bringing down seven rebounds.

Salisbury started off the game hot as they were able to score the first six points of the game and establish an early lead. The Gulls and Mustangs (6-17, 5-9 CAC) would continue to trade baskets until Salisbury was able to go on a 7-0 run and push the lead to 11. The Gulls would keep this comfortable lead for the rest of the half as the maroon and gold led 33-22 at the break.

The Sea Gulls continued to execute well throughout the second half as they held a double-digit lead over the Mustangs for a majority of the half. Salisbury held a 15-point lead twice in the second half and allowed Stevenson to get as close at nine for a brief moment.

Sophomore Greg Collins scored a team-high 18 points and nine rebounds in the loss for the Mustangs. Senior center Kerry Dugan scored 12 points and ripped down eight rebounds.

Salisbury outmuscled the Mustangs in rebounds 50-39. The Gulls also shot an impressive 46 percent (31-for-68) from the field and 80 percent (12-for-15) from the free-throw line. 

The maroon and gold are entering the final week of the regular season with two CAC games left both at home. The Sea Gulls welcome Marymount (Va.) University (12-11, 7-7 CAC) to the Maggs Center on Wednesday, February 18, for an 8 p.m. game on Coaches vs. Cancer night. Salisbury will then take on Hood College (8-15, 5-9 CAC) on Saturday, February 21, at 4 p.m. SU will honor its seniors before the start of the Hood game.