SALEM, Mass. - Senior center Dylan Holmes (Groton, Mass.) scored 21 points and grabbed 17 rebounds Tuesday night to lead Salem State College to a 75-63 victory over Plymouth State University in non-conference men's basketball action.

              Senior forward Ricky Ogboin (Brighton, Mass.) added 15 points as the Vikings won their season opener.  PSU dropped its second straight and dipped to 1-2.

              Plymouth State junior guard Jason O'Keene (Everett, Mass.) led all scorers with 22 points, including four three-point baskets.

              The home team never trailed in the contest.  The Viking lead reached 11 points (28-17) midway through the first half, but PSU battled back and got the margin down to three points at the half, 37-34. The Panthers actually tied the game on an O'Keefe three-pointer to open the second half, but the visitors couldn't get the lead.

              Salem State slowly pulled away.  The Panthers were still within four points (53-49) at the midway point of the second half, and were within seven (62-55) with five minutes to play, but the Vikings had a 12-point margin with three minutes remaining and held on for the win.

              The Panthers also received 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds from sophomore forward Tom Dowd (Portsmouth, N.H.) and 10 points and five boards from senior guard Ben Huntington (Hampstead, N.H.).

              PSU is back in action next Tuesday, Nov. 25, with a non-conference road game at Castleton (7:30 p.m.) 

(Courtesy of Salem State Sports Information) 

-- 30 --