Salisbury snaps losing skid with win over Marymount (Va.)
SALISBURY, Md. - The Salisbury University men's basketball team snapped its 12-game losing streak with a thrilling 72-70 victory over Marymount (Va.) University on Saturday afternoon before a crowd of 205 at the Maggs Center.

This is Salisbury's first victory since Nov. 20, 2007 and its first win in the Capital Athletic Conference this season.

Salisbury (3-13, 1-6 CAC) sophomore Wesley Sweet (15 points) hit a lay-up in the paint with six seconds left to break the fourth tie in the game. Saint guard Stephen Simoneau heaved a three-pointer as time expired but couldn't find the bottom of the net as the Sea Gulls erupted into jubilation.

"It feels great," said Salisbury coach Steve Holmes. "It has been a long time since we last won. The guys have been working very, very hard for this. I am really happy for them."

The Sea Gulls had to stave off a Saint run down the stretch in the second half. The Saints (8-7, 3-4 CAC) went on a 10-0 run in four minutes to knot the game at 68 apiece with 1:18 left in the game.

SU senior forward Jonas Vaitkus (11 points, eight rebounds) made a lay-up with 46 seconds left in the game to give the Sea Gulls a 70-68 lead. Vaitkus' bucket was the first for maroon and gold since the 5:01 mark when Sweet made a layup.

The Saints answered back 26 seconds later as forward Fred Stanback (14 points, seven rebounds) hit a jumper to tie the game at 70. Marymount quickly called a timeout after the bucket to set-up its defense to try and force overtime.

Last season, the two teams played a five-overtime game in the Maggs Center where the Saints won 126-122. The five-overtime periods tied a NCAA Division III record.

"I feel like I can breathe now," said Salisbury's Greg Palmer, about ending the losing streak. "We stayed positive throughout the game and kept playing until the end."

Palmer had a big hand in the victory for the maroon and gold as he scored a game-high 27 points, 14 of which came in the second half. The sophomore guard added five rebounds, four blocks and three assists in the win.

The Sea Gulls trailed 43-38 at the half but came out with a high intensity in the second half. Salisbury went on 15-4 run to regain the lead 52-47 with 13 minutes to play.

Stanback reached a personal milestone at the 4:41 mark in the second half as his three-pointer gave him 1,000 points for his career.

Salisbury shot 48.3 percent from the field and was solid from the free-throw line as the Sea Gulls shot 84.6 percent (11-of-13).

Marymount guard Shaun Ingram led the Saints with 18 points in the loss. The Saints shot 45.5 percent from the field and was 37.5 percent from three-point range.

This was the first game of a three-game homestand for the Sea Gulls. Salisbury will return to action on Wednesday, January 23, at 7:30 p.m. to face Hood College in a CAC game.