Men’s Basketball Handles Salem State in Season Opener, 105-65

BOSTON – Suffolk men's basketball lifted the lid on its 77th season in dynamic fashion as the Rams became just the fourth team in program history to surpass the 100-point mark in the first game of the season with a 105-65 triumph over Salem State Saturday afternoon at Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court. A dozen players poured in at least two points to help the blue-and-gold achieve the 40-point victory. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 105 | Salem State 65
RECORDS: Suffolk (1-0) | Salem State (0-2) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Things were locked at 19-all at the midway point of the first half. Back-to-back treys from Keenan Robertson and Conor Creane ignited a 10-3 Rams run that pushed the host ahead 29-22 and forced Salem State into a timeout with 5:50 to play before halftime.  

See-saw action came out of the huddle, which allowed Suffolk to stretch its advantage to 34-26 before the blue-and-gold used its first timeout of the day at the 4:27 mark. 

The Rams surged out of this break, as they outscored the Vikings 14-4 over the final four minutes of the opening half to take a 48-30 cushion into the locker room. 

Robertson poured in the first hoop of the second stanza on Suffolk's first possession to extend the distance to 20. Salem State flirted with a. comeback over the next few minutes and pulled within 14, 55-41, at the 16:24 mark.  

Suffolk took control of things with a 12-2 spurt that made it a 24-point gap, 67-43, in the host favor with just under 13 minutes to go in regulation. 

Scoring did not stop there as Robertson converted a traditional three-point play to extend the edge to 31, 84-53, with 5:38 left on the clock. 

It was cruise control from there for the host as the Rams reserves picked up where Suffolk's starters left off for the 105-65 final.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Robertson had a game-high 30 points behind a 13-for-16 showing from the field and a 3-for-4 effort from downtown. The sophomore was one board shy of a double-double with four handouts and three takeaways to his credit. 
• Cole LeVangie added 15 points on a 50.0 percent (5-10) connection rate from the floor that included a 3-for-7 effort from 3-point land. His stat line featured seven caroms and three dimes. 
• Liam Cunnie supplied 13 points and three rebounds. 
• Creane contributed 12 points, five boards and one takeaway. 
• Suffolk shot 54.7 percent (41-75) from the floor, 41.7 percent (15-36) from behind-the-arc and 88.9 percent (8-9) at the line. 
• The Rams won the battle on the glass, 51-38. 
• Salem State shot just a 35.9 percent (32-63) from the floor, paced by a 28-point performance from Josiah Green. 
• Nearly half of the blue-and-gold's points came in the paint (50). 
• Suffolk's reserves were responsible for 37 of the Rams points.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk won its sixth straight season opener. 
• The Rams improved to 26-29 in the first game of the season since 1967-68. 
• The blue-and-gold began its calendar at home for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign.
• Suffolk moved to 7-5 in season debuts played at home. 
• The Rams defeated Salem State for the second time in as many meetings to level the all-time series, which began in 1969, at 11-11. 
• Suffolk moved to 2-1 versus SSU with Jeff Juron on the bench. 
• The Rams defeated the Vikings in back-to-back meetings for the first time since putting two wins in a row together over SSU Jan. 25, 1979 and Jan. 22, 1981. 
• The 105 points scored are the most for Suffolk all-time against Salem State. 
• The 40-point margin of victory is the largest triumph for the blue-and-gold in the all-time series with the Vikings. 
• Suffolk scored 100-plus points in the first game of the season for the first time since lifting the lid on the 1991-92 season. 
• The 100-plus point performance in the opening outing marks the fourth time in program history acrroding to the game-by-game record book, which dates through the 1967-68 season. Suffolk surpassed the 100-point mark in game one. 
• Prior to today, the Rams have achieved 100 points in the season debuts 1977-78, 1985-86 and 1991-92.
• Suffolk surpassed 100 points for the first time since dropping 102 in a 102-52 offensive onslaught of Curry Feb. 12, 2022. 
• Robertson recorded a career-high in points (30), steals (3), field goals made (13), field goals attempted (16) and 3-point field goals made (3). 
• LeVangie matched a personal-best seven caroms. 
• Cunnie notched a personal-high in points (13), field goals made (5), field goals attempted (10), 3-point field goals made (3), 3-point field goals attempted (6) and reobunds (3). 
• Abdulahi Aden logged a career-high in points (5), field goals made (1) and assists (2). 
• Ray Bosquet dished out the first assists of his collegiate career. 
• Kaelen Kanealey made his Suffolk debut. 

POST-GAME PIC
  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk hits the road for the first time this season, Wednesday, Nov. 16 when it heads to Colby Sawyer for a 7 p.m. match.