Two Sea Gulls took the court for their final regular season home game on Saturday.
Center J.P. Krotulis and forward Lucas Martin have played all four years with the maroon and gold.
Krotulis averages a career 3.6 points-per-game and 2.1 rebounds-per-game while Martin has shined in his senior season, averaging 11.8 points-per-game and 5.6 rebounds-per-game.
Head coach Maurice Williams says his first senior class at the helm of the program will be greatly missed moving forward.
“The seniors on our team are an incredible group of young men. I love coaching them and we are really going to miss those guys whenever the last one is,” Williams said.
The men’s basketball team was able to get their seniors a win in what could be their final game in Maggs Physical Activities Center as they knocked off their Capital Athletic Conference foe Southern Virginia, 86-58.
Willams said the priority for the game was seeing his team play their brand of basketball.
“We always want to make teams uncomfortable and we always want to be the attacking team,” Williams said.
The two teams traded baskets to start the contest. After trailing 10-6 in the opening minutes, Salisbury went on an 18-0 run to take a 14-point lead.
Junior guard Gary Briddell converted two “and-one” chances and added a three-pointer in the stretch.
This swing of momentum set up Salisbury for the rest of the game. The Sea Gulls would use good passing and suffocating defense to go into the break with a 45-24 lead.
Briddell said ball movement and spacing were key in the effort.
“We just spaced the floor to get everyone involved and to get everyone touches and just doing what we do best really,” Briddell said.
Briddell finished the contest with a game-high 24 points and three rebounds.
Southern Virginia started the second half with a brand new starting five.
The second half mirrored the first as Salisbury would jump out to a 61-28 lead with 14:40 to go in the game, and they would not look back.
Williams was pleased with his team's effort and execution of the game plan in the contest.
“Our guys came out and did an incredible job of following the game plan,” Williams said. “We played together, got the right shots and played the right way.”
After what may be Martin’s final home game for Salisbury, he said he enjoyed having his basketball career unfold at SU.
“My career was great. I couldn't imagine doing it for anyone else or anywhere else. It was a dream come true,” Martin said.
At the beginning of the season, Williams said the primary goal was teaching his young team how to win. Now, as the season winds down, Williams said he thinks the team is grasping that concept.
“I actually did not have to say much at halftime, I was really proud that the guys were echoing the things I have been saying,” Williams said. “Instead of learning how to win, we are now understanding it.”
By COREY YOUNG
Staff writer
Featured photo: Brad Boardman image.
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