From Brandeis University Athletics

The Brandeis University men's basketball team took down the Salem State Vikings, 78-63, on Saturday at Auerbach Arena in the consolation game of the Big Four Challenge. With the victory, the Judges move to 3-2 on the season and Salem State falls to 4-4.

Junior guard Carlin Haymon (Boston, Mass./Rivers School) was the star of the game for the Judges, as he led all players with a game-high 22 points, shooting 8-13 from the field and 4-6 from beyond the arc. Haymon had several creative plays as the Judges were extending their lead in the second half, including a step-back three-pointer that gave Brandeis a ten point lead 9:36 into the second half. Three other Judges cracked double-digits in points: freshman guard Collin Sawyer (New London, Conn./New London) had a career-high 12, senior guard Tim Reale (Mason, Ohio/St. Andrew's (R.I.) School) had 11, and senior guard Jack Fay (New Rochelle, N.Y. / Suffield Acad.) had nine. Senior guard Robinson Vilmont (Cambridge, Mass./Wilbraham and Monson) had nine points and seven rebounds, and junior forward Jordan Cooper (Weston, Fla./Sagemont School) also added nine points and six boards of his own.

Salem State spread its scoring out, as no Viking had more than sophomore guard Alex Santos' (Lawrence, Mass./Worcester St.) 15 points. Senior forward Marcus Faison (Cambridge, Mass./Cambridge Rindge & Latin) fell one rebound short of a double-double, finishing with ten points and nine rebounds.

The Vikings got off to a quick start in the first half, leading 11-4 under five minutes in, but the Judges went on a 9-2 run punctuated by a Fay three to tie it up a few minutes later. The game stayed tight for the rest of the first half, although Brandeis was able to take a five-point lead into the break after Vilmont hit a three and later made two free throws in the final 1:10 of the half to make it 39-34. The Judges spread their scoring around nicely in the first half, with four Judges scoring between six and nine points.

Salem State was able to close the gap to two at 46-44, but then Brandeis went on a 13-4 run to stretch its lead out to 59-48. Following a Salem State free throw, Brandeis again went on a run, this time of the 9-0 variety, and the lead was 20 with 6:09 left. After that, the closest the Vikings got was within 12 with 2:17 left.

Brandeis was more efficient in all facets of the game today, beating Salem State in field-goal percentage, 42.4%-39.2%, three-point percentage, 38.1%-33.3%, and free throw percentage, 83.3%-73.1%. They also won the rebounding battle, 42-29, although the Vikings only five turnovers to the Judges' 18.