SALEM, Mass. - December 30, 2018 - The Colby-Sawyer men's basketball team closed out the 2018 calendar year with a double overtime thriller at Salem State on Sunday evening. The Holiday Classic Tournament host Vikings outlasted Colby-Sawyer, 114-112.

Colby-Sawyer dips to 6-5 and will travel to Thomas College on Saturday, January 5 for a 4 p.m. contest. Salem State improves to 6-7. 

Jourdain Bell (Manchester, N.H.) led Colby-Sawyer with 26 points, seven rebounds, six assists and five steals. Bell moved into fifth in career steals with 173. KJ Synvrit (Miami, Fla.) and Patrick Coffey (Westford, Mass.) added 17 points apiece. Synvrit was 7-of-9 from the floor, while Coffey added nine rebounds. Nick Backer (Tamarac, Fla.) contributed 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. 

Salem State received a game best 39 points from Sean Bryan. He went 12-of-24 from the floor, 5-of-11 from beyond the arc and 10-of-11 from the charity stripe. Hakeem Animashaun notched an impressive double-double of 25 points and 18 rebounds for the Vikings. Bryan Martinez tallied 10 points and five blocks. 

In a high scoring double overtime, Salem State was able to outscore the Chargers 17-15 to come away with the victory. Two minutes into the second extra frame, a Nick Backer free throw gave Colby-Sawyer a 102-99 lead, but was quickly answered by a Sean Bryan three-pointer that tied the contest. The game was tied again at 105-105 with with 1:42 on the clock. KJ Synvrit then made two free throws, but the Vikings responded once again with a trey from Evan Mason to take a 108-107 advantage with 1:10 left. Salem State then made a layup sandwiched around two free throws to go in front 112-107. Colby-Sawyer did not back down and received an Austin Boudreau layup and a Jake Carrier trey around another Salem State free throw to cut the deficit to 113-112 with 14 seconds to go. Mason made one of two freebies at the line to push the lead to two and give the Chargers a chance at a last second opportunity with four ticks on the clock. Colby-Sawyer got a couple of close chances but could not connect ending the game in favor of the home team 114-112.  

Each team put eight points on the scoreboard to make the score 97-97 after the first overtime session. Trailing by a bucket with a 1:12 left, Jourdain Bell stepped to the free throw line and made a pair to tie the game. Each team had two possessions down the stretch, but neither side could find the game-winner. 

The Vikings began the second half on a 13-2 run in four minutes to take a 60-50 lead. Salem State was able to hold a 10-point lead (72-62) until the 11:22 mark before Colby-Sawyer began its run at a comeback. Jake Carrier (Manchester, N.H) scored five-straight points to complete the comeback and put the visitors on top 75-74 with 8:31 to play. The Vikings responded with an 8-0 run, which was answered by a 7-0 run from the Chargers to knot the game at 82-82 with 5:25 to play. 

A Jourdain Bell layup put Colby-Sawyer in front 89-86 with 23 seconds left in regulation. On the ensuing possession, Sean Bryan connected on a trey to tie the game with 15 seconds left on the clock. The Chargers got a shot off but could not find the range, sending the game into overtime. 

The first half was back and forth throughout, featured seven ties and neither team led by more than six. A Dana Bean layup with 35 seconds left on the clock put the Chargers in front 48-47 heading into half time. 

Salem State went 21-of-37 from the free throw line, while Colby-Sawyer made 8-of-15 attempts. The Vikings held a slim 53-49 edge on the glass and each team shot 51% from the floor. 

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