Salisbury, MD – After turning a poor first half into a strong second half, the Regent University Basketball team had an opportunity to build off that momentum Wednesday afternoon. It was only four days ago that the Royals and Salisbury University faced off back in Virginia Beach and today was the rematch, as they traveled across the Bay Bridge Tunnel to the Eastern Shore. It was another chance for Regent to prove they can play on the big stage, but to do so, they would have to slow down a quick Seagulls team.
Salisbury got on the board first as the first half began, but Sophomore Darrin Clark (Suffolk, VA) would have an answer for the Royals with a baseline jumper. However, Salisbury put together a run to take a double-digit lead, 12-2. Clark was able to stop the run until the Seagulls made their third three-pointer of the game, but Junior Matthew Mealy (Chesapeake, VA) pulled up for a made jumper to keep Regent in the game. A three-pointer by Freshman Marion Brown (Chesapeake, VA) trimmed the advantage to single digits, but a driving layup from Salisbury pushed the lead back to 27-16. Junior Chaz Moody (Chesapeake, VA) grabbed a defensive rebound and then Clark eventually found him under the basket for the score, but the Seagulls would go on another run to grab their biggest lead of the game, 39-22. Freshman Modokwe Piyassa (Lome, VA) was able to put more points on the board, but as the teams headed to the locker room, the Royals trailed 64-29.
The beginning of the second half saw Regent's defense come out ready to play as Junior Joakim Marie-Joseph (Saint Martin) blocked a shot and that eventually led to a basket by Freshman Joshua Ryder (Raleigh, NC), which was followed by an offensive put back by Brown. However, Salisbury continued to take advantage of the three-point line and at the first media timeout they held the lead, 82-38. Out of the timeout they continued to drain the three-pointers, but Piyassa was able to find the basket to slow things down. A few plays later Ryder found Clark on a fast break for two more points, but the Royals were not able to mount a comeback and would fall by a final score of 116-54.
Regent was led by Clark who finished with 15 points, while Ryder grabbed a team high 6 rebounds to go along with 5 assists. The Royals will be back in action on Friday, January 26th when they host Johnson & Wales University. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00pm.
