SALEM -- The No. 19 Salem International Tigers (7-0) overcame a sluggish start to sprint by fellow West Virginia Conference member Davis & Elkins, 98-59.
Although the Tigers never trailed in the game, starting with a 3-pointer by James Fowler just 15 seconds in, the Senators were within single digits with less than 3:00 remaining in the first half.
With 2:52 left until halftime, D&E's Jabari Ray capped a 6-0 Senator run with a pair of free throws that made the score 31-23 in favor of Salem.
The Tigers would then put the game away with an 8-2 run to end the first half and a 7-2 streak to start the second.
Guard Wykeen Kelly started the first run with a pair of free throws and a layup. With 1:16 left in the first half, Jason Dunham hit a jumper in the lane off a feed from Fowler. With just :35 remaining, Dunham capped the mini-run with a fallaway jumper on the baseline to expand the lead to 39-23.
A pair of free throws by Dmitriy Anoshin made the halftime score 39-25 in favor of the Tigers.
"The first half was the sloppiest we've been all year," SIU coach Danny Young said. "We picked it up a little bit there, but there just wasn't very good execution tonight."
The 7-2 run at the start of the second was capped by a Fowler 3-pointer from the right baseline that put the Tigers up, 48-27, with 16:51 remaining in the game.
From there, the Tigers coasted to an easy win.
"It was hard to get up for this game," SIU's Kelly said. "We play to the level of our competition.
"I know we could have played better."
Five Salem players topped double-digits, led by Kelly's 16. Fowler added 12 and Dunham, Kenia Williams and Donnie Johnson each chipped in with 10.
The Tigers finished the game shooting 53-percent from the floor, including 7-of-19 from beyond the 3-point line.
Ray led the Senators (2-5) with 16. Anoshin chipped in with 12 and Andy Collins added 11. D&E committed 24 turnovers that led to 30 Salem points.
"We knew coming that it was going to be pressure defense," Senator coach Amrit Rayfield said. "We just didn't handle that pressure well."
n SIU WOMEN FALL: Millersville outscored Salem International, 33-17, in the first half and rolled to a 61-44 women's victory.
SIU (0-5) was led by Kristen Self with 15 points and Ashlee Hammersley with eight. Chrissy Luchuck and Giedre Mazeikaite each added seven.
Sports writer Chris Vannoy can be reached at 626-1444 or by e-mail at sports@exponent-telegram.com
