Sea Gulls top Maryland Bible College, 86-71

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The Salisbury University men’s basketball team got back to its winning ways Sunday afternoon, closing out the CNU Classic at Christopher Newport University with an 86-71 victory over Maryland Bible College. The win ends a two-game losing skid.

The 86 points scored by the Sea Gulls (4-5, 0-2 Capital Athletic Conference) is the team's second-highest total of the season, following the 87 points scored against Methodist University during last weekend's Optimist Classic.

Salisbury took an early lead Sunday, which became a commanding lead thanks to a 17-8 run over six minutes early in the first half. The advantage was 29-14, and it got within single digits just once after that.

By the time the game reached halftime, the Sea Gulls had taken a 52-32 lead and never looked back, allowing Maryland Bible College to get only as close as 13 points down in the second half.

The Sea Gulls got 21 points from senior guard Devin Jones (Severn, Md.), matching his top output this season, he also dished out four assists. Senior guard/forward Greg Palmer (Salisbury, Md.) was good for 19 points on Sunday, as he has now scored in double figures in every game this season and in 13 straight games dating back to last season.

Palmer also pulled in 10 rebounds. He was matched in his double-double by sophomore forward Mike Maczko (Bel Air, Md.) who scored 10 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and had three assists. Junior center Chris McGrew (Burtonsville, Md.) added 13 points and eight rebounds.

The Sea Gulls will play one more time before the end of 2009, traveling to Washington (Md.) College on Dec. 19, to take on the Shoremen. Tip-off for that game is set for 4 p.m.