Courtesy Salem State Sports Information

Salem, MA -- The Bridgewater State Bears won their third consecutive post-season MASCAC championship after beating the Salem State Vikings 91-73 at the James Twohig Gymnasium Saturday.

It was the fifth overall MASCAC tournament title from the No. 3 seed Bears as they snapped a 16-game Viking win streak dating back to Jan. 6.

Bridgewater State led by as many as 22 points in the second-half, but the Vikings went on a 15-0 run to cut their deficit to just seven with 9:55 on the clock. But Bridgewater State hit 17-of-21 free throws down the stretch and held off the Vikings' surge to win the title. 

Bear's senior guard Judah Jackson (Everett, MA) hit a jumper after an offensive rebound by Andrew Kelley (Mansfield, MA) to put Bridgewater State back up by 13 with 5:42 left to play. The Vikings answered with a bucket from Brian Clark (Deerfield, MA), to bring their deficit back to 11, but were not able to get any closer than that as the Bears cruised to commanding victory.

Jackson won the game's MVP honors. He nearly posted a triple-double with 18 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds. Nicolas Motta (Fairhaven, MA) was the game's leading scorer with 22. Corey Connor (Providence, RI), Samuel Johnson (North Chelmsford, MA), and Anthony Fortes (East Providence, RI) all also put up double-figures in points for Bridgewater State.

Salem State's Apollos Wade (Taunton, MA) opened the first-half on fire by nailing a trio of three pointers, but the Bears went on an 11-2 run late in the period capped by a Nicolas Motta jumper, and went into the locker room with a 44-33 lead.

Wade finished the game with 19 points. Tavone Wynder (So. Boston, MA) posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards. Brian Clark scored 14 points and Dan Clark (Deerfield, MA) put up 11.

Bridgewater State stayed hot after halftime as Motta made a layup and was fouled and converted from the foul line on the Bear's second possession to increase their lead to 14. After Brian Clark hit one of two from the charity stripe on the Viking's next possession, Salem State's Tristian Shannon (Andover, MA) fouled Motta and then was called for a technical. Connor made both technical shots and Motta made one of two and the visiting Bears went up by 16 early in the period.

It was the final collegiate game for both Brennan Bennett (Northbridge, MA) and Nick Linear (Salem, MA), both seniors. Bennett scored three points on 1-3 shooting and Linear scored eight points and went 2-6 from the field.