SALEM, W.Va. - The Fairmont State University men's basketball team made the short trek to face the Salem University Tigers. After trailing at the half, the Falcons doubled up the hosts in the second half en route to a 79-55 win.

Both teams exchanged threes to start. Following a Zyon Dobbs jumper, Tyheil Peterson laid on in to put Fairmont State (18-7) ahead, 7-6, with 15:58 on the clock. Salem (6-19) responded with a 6-0 run over the next three minutes until Colin Comer hit a three. 

The Falcons started to grasp control of the game as they went ahead by eight points (28-20) with 5:30 to go in the first half. The Tigers battled back and thanks to a 12-2 run, found themselves ahead by two (32-30) going into the locker room.

Opening the second half, Fairmont State scored the first four points as the back-and-forth continued from each team. Trailing 37-36, the visitors took over the game with a 21-2 run over seven minutes of game time and led 57-39.

Salem tried to cut into the deficit but only narrowed it to 16 points on multiple occasions. Never looking back, FSU went on towards the 24-point victory.

Dobbs led all scores with 16 points while Jaidyn West dropped 14 off the bench. David Jolinder and Tommy Williams each had 12 while Cameron Whiteside finished with 10 points. As a team, the Falcons scored 29 points off the bench and 21 off turnovers.

Fairmont State returns to Mountain East play on Saturday, February 24 to face Notre Dame College. Tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m.