Box Score
SALEM, Mass--Nicholas Grassa shot Salem State past the Fighting Scots of Gordon College with 18 points off the bench, on 7-of-11 shooting, to lift the Vikings to a 70-65 victory over the Gordon College Fighting Scot on Tuesday night at Twohig Gymnasium. The Scots held a late lead, but Grassa's sharpshooting down the stretch carried the Vikings on a 10-0 run to end the game.

The Vikings' defense started slow, allowing nine fastbreak points in the first few minutes of the opening session. Bryan Ortiz ended a brief Gordon run with two quick three-pointers to cut the deficit to two, However, Hans Miersma (Whitinsville, MA) was unstoppable in the low post, recording a double-double in the first half with 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Fighting Scots (1-4) as Gordon ended the stanza with a 29- 24 lead.

Miersma's defensive prowess continued in the second half, blocking five more Salem shots giving him a total of nine for the game. He was only one block away from recording a triple-double, but finished the night with an impressive 21 points, 18 rebounds, and nine blocks. Salem wouldn't be denied as Grassa showed his range by hitting three, three-pointers in transition to help Salem State erase a 10-point deficit with eight minutes remaining.
 
Trailing 59-53, Andrew White's dunk and five quick points by Ortiz pulled Salem State to within 63-60 with 3:56 left. With just two minutes left, Grassa hit a huge three to give Salem their first lead of the second half at 67-65. Gordon guard, Taylor Bajema (Whitinsville, MA) missed two crucial free throws with 40 seconds left in the frame that could have tied the score. White followed with a one-and-one opportunity; sank both free throws, and secured the hard-fought Vikings win.

Ortiz added 22 points, including 6-of-6 from the line, and White finished with 13 points and seven rebounds as Salem State shot just 33.8% percent from the field (24-71).

Alex Carnes (Phoenix, AZ) chipped in with 12 points, and Park Thomas (Scottsdale, AZ) added nine for the Fighting Scots—who went 2-of-14 from three-point range—as the Scots struggle to find their shot away from the Bennett Center.

Salem State's next game is December 5th when they travel to Cambridge to play MIT at 8:00pm. Gordon will host crosstown rival Endicott in the conference opener on December 4th at 7:30pm.­

Release courtesy of Salem State Sports Information