SALISBURY, Md. – The TCNJ men's basketball team opened the 2021-22 season with a road game at Salisbury on Monday night, and the Sea Gulls topped the Lions, 73-59, in non-conference action. Danny Bodine and Justin Carbone each had a game-high 17 points, and Anthony DiCaro had 15.
 
The Lions (0-1) jumped out to a 10-point lead with 14:16 left in the first half after a Bodine dunk on the fast break was followed by three pointers from DiCaro and Carbone. That gave the Lions a 17-7 advantage early.
 
In the next nine minutes, Salisbury fought back to take its own double-digit lead by outscoring the Lions, 23-3, in the stretch. TCNJ made just a single field goal in more than 10 minutes of game action, but the early TCNJ push helped the Lions stay within reach when Salisbury made its run.
 
Bodine and Carbone each scored late in the half, and TCNJ went into the halftime intermission only trailing by seven, 36-29.
 
The Lions used some of that momentum to pull to within one point early in the second half after DiCaro and Carbone hit three pointers to make it 40-39 Salisbury with 16:29 left in regulation. The Lions just couldn't get over the hump and retake the lead, though.
 
Salisbury responded to that push by going on a 17-0 run that extended for more than seven minutes in the middle portion of the second half. That run effectively ended the Lions comeback hopes.
 
Jim Clemente had 12 rebounds to pace the Lions on the glass. TCNJ also assisted on 14 of its 18 buckets. DiCaro led the way with a game-high six assists.
 
TCNJ returns to action on Friday at home against Saint Elizabeth at 5 p.m. in the opening round of the TCNJ Tipoff Tournament.