BOSTON, Mass. (November 11, 2025) – Salem State University rode a 12-0 run late in the second half to an 84-80 season-opening victory over Emerson College in non-conference men's basketball action on Hank Smith Court at Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Gymnasium this afternoon.
Sophomore Ali Berry led Salem State's balanced offensive effort that placed four in double-figures with 18 points, six rebounds, two assists, three steals and a blocked shot. Classmate Jamel Walker added 17 points, aided by a 7-for-10 shooting effort at the free-throw line, with five rebounds, three assists and three steals, while freshman Raheim Orleans totaled 14 points and seven boards. Junior Omri Merryman chipped in 13 points, including a trio of key three-pointers late to help seal the win, with nine rebounds and two assists.
Senior Linus Helmhold led all scorers with a career-high matching 25 points for Emerson on 8-of-10 shooting from the floor and 9-for-12 at the free-throw line, with seven rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot. Postgrad Otto Luessenhop contributed 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting off the bench in his Emerson debut, adding four rebounds and four blocked shots. Senior Jacob Armant added ten points, eight boards, four steals and two assists, while junior Guillermo Gasset Ruiz collected a team-high nine rebounds, with seven assists, six points, two steals and two blocked shots.
Salem State answered back-to-back three-pointers from Armant and junior Shay Roban that gave Emerson a six point lead (66-60) with 7:09 to play with a 12-0 run, keyed by consecutive triples by Merryman and Barry to reverse the lead with a six point advantage of its own (72-66) with four minutes to go. A second Merryman three stretched the Vikings lead to seven (77-70) with 2:10 on the clock.
The Salem State lead was still seven (80-73) after Merryman's third triple of the stretch run, but Emerson made a late push to within two points twice in the final minute. Free-throws from Helmhold and a Luessenhop jumper had the Lions within a basket, but the hosts were unable to knot the score as the Vikings converted all four tries at the free-throw line down the stretch to seal the win.
Noteworthy
- Helmhold posted his fourth career 20-plus point game, reaching double-figures in an Emerson uniform for the 18th game.
- Junior Brendan Taylor chipped in a career-high 11 points in 16-minutes off the bench for the Lions on 4-of-6 shooting.
- Salem State posted a 43-38 rebounding advantage.
- Emerson finished shooting 47.6-percent from the field but was 4-for-16 (25%) from three-point distance, while Salem State connected on 40.3% of its shots overall and made 18-of-22 (81.8%) free-throws.
- Salem State dealt Emerson its first season-opening setback since Nichols University in 2021.
Up Next
Emerson (0-1, 0-0 NEWMAC) returns to action on Boylston Street Friday night when it hosts Western Connecticut State University on Hank Smith Court at 6 p.m. Salem State (1-0, 0-0 MASCAC) hosts UMass Boston on Saturday at 2 p.m.
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