SALEM, W. Va. – Making the trip down south, the D'Youville University men's basketball team closed out their nonconference schedule with a 74-67 loss to Salem University Saturday afternoon.
 
The Saints (5-9, 2-1 ECC) were led offensively by Trayton Trice (Romeoville, Ill.) with 23 points with Chase Jenkins (Titusville, Fla.) and Nasir Hammonds (Norfolk, Va.) adding 12 and 11 points, respectively. Hammonds completed the double-double with 10 rebounds with Trice and Jenkins adding seven boards each.
 
DYU got out to a quick start with a 5-2 lead two minutes into the game thanks in part to Trice completing the traditional three-point play by converting the and-one opportunity. The Tigers were able to answer back, scoring five unanswered including a three-pointer by Khemanni Davis to make it 7-5.
 
The teams battled back and forth until the 10-minute mark of the first half as D'Youville pulled out to a six-point lead. A Hammonds layup and a three-pointer by Bryson Birdsong (Winter Haven, Fla.) off the dish from Noah Hutchins (Buffalo, N.Y.) made it a 22-16 game. Salem was able to get back into the game, taking the 24-22 lead with an 8-0 run.
 
The teams traded baskets, but the Tigers were able to use a 6-2 run to close out the half and take a 34-29 lead into the break.
 
After being down by as many as 11 points in the second half, the Saints were able to use a 10-2 run to cut the deficit to three to make it 58-55 with just under nine minutes left in regulation. During the run, Jenkins led the way with five points, including a three-pointer off the feed from Renard Fontes-Jules (Brockton, Mass.). Salem was able to regain the momentum, going up by nine points to make it 69-60 with 4:15 left in the game.
 
DYU had one last effort down the stretch, scoring five unanswered to make it 69-65 thanks in part to a pair of free throws and a layup from Trice. Forcing the Saints to foul to have a chance, the Tigers made their free throws to take the game.
 
The Saints went 22-for-62 (35.5 percent) from the field and 18-for-23 (78.3 percent) from the free throw line. Salem went 25-for-58 (43.1 percent) from the floor and 16-for-24 (66.7 percent) from the free throw line. The teams were even on the boards, grabbing 40 rebounds each.
 
DYU will be back in action next Friday, January 12th, as they get back into conference action against The University of the District of Columbia at 8:00 p.m.