MASCAC regular season co-champion Salem State nearly overcame a late nine point deficit with a furious comeback, but the Vikings saw their season come to an end Friday evening with a 67-61 setback to Franklin & Marshall in the sectional semi-finals of the 2009 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championships at the Mayser Center in Lancaster, Pa.

Senior Stevie Celestin (Somerville, Mass.) led three players in double figures with 19 points in his final collegiate contest for Salem State, which ends the season at 23-7 overall. Sophomore Nick Linear (Salem, Mass.) added 15 points and nine rebounds for the Vikings, which also received 10 points from freshman Dan Clark (Deerfield, Mass.).

Salem State opened up an early five point advantage in the first seven minutes of action, but the host Diplomats rallied back to take a 32-28 edge at the break and extended that margin to nine (58-49) with 4:58 to play in the contest. The Vikings closed back to within three points on three different occasions in the final 2:01 of action, but Franklin & Marshall six free throws in the final 25 seconds to ice its triumph.

Salem State made its 22nd overall appearance in the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championships this season under second year Head Coach Chris Harvey, the 2008-09 MASCAC Co-Coach of the Year.