The University of Mary Washington men's basketball team used a big first half to defeat #19 Salisbury University, 84-70, on Wednesday night in Ron Rosner Arena. The Eagles outscored the Seagulls 41-23 in the first half and that proved to help UMW secure their second-straight upset over a top 25 team. This was UMW's first back-to-back wins over ranked teams since December 14 and 17, 2013 when the Eagles upset St. Mary's and Virginia Wesleyan. The Eagles improve to 10-4 overall, and 2-1 in the CAC. Freshman Greg Rowson scored a game-high 23 points, and senior Johnny Cronin added 17 points and hauled in 18 rebounds. 

Salisbury began the game by jumping out to a 5-3 lead in the first 1:42 of the game. From there, UMW went on a 10-0 run as Greg Rowson and Da'Shawn Cook each scored five points a piece over the next 5:08 to take a 13-5 lead. Riley Welch knocked down a three-pointer to give the Eagles their first double digit lead of the game at 10, 18-8. 

Rowson drilled his second three-pointer of the half to extend the UMW lead 13, 24-11, with 6:05 to play. Cook and Rowson then had back-to-back three-pointers with 3:45 to play to put the Eagles' lead at 34-16. The two teams then traded buckets and the Eagles maintained their 18 point lead as Drew Johnson made the last shot of the half and that put UMW up 41-23. 

The Seagulls began the first 3:54 on a 15-3 run to get within four, 42-38. UMW responded and went on a 14-0 run to grow their lead back to 18, 56-38. Johnson ended the Salisbury run with a three-pointer and then Rowson scored seven straight points. Cronin ended the run by knocking down a jumper and then scooping home a layup.

Another run ensued as Salisbury scored 15 straight points and got within three, 56-53, with 8:53 to play. Rowson knocked down a turn-around jumper to put an end to the run. Salisbury chipped away and got it within two points, 58-56, with 7:35 to play. The Eagles reeled off seven straight points, as Mark Madison scored five of those, to go up 65-56. 

Jacob Williams made a pull-up jump shot with 4:38 to play and that put the Eagles up double digits, 69-58. The Seagulls got it back to within single digits, but Cronin had a three-point play with 2:20 left to put the game at 76-64. UMW maintained that lead and knocked down late free throws to defeat Salisbury, 84-70. 

UMW shot 29-56 (51.8%) from the field, 12-25 (48.0%) from three-point range, and 14-20 (70.0%) from the free throw line. The Eagles out-rebounded the Seagulls 43-30 and they dished out 17 assists as a team. Cook and Madison both chipped in 12 points a piece. 

UMW will travel to Penn St.-Harrisburg on Saturday for a tip-off set at 3 p.m.