By Jim Fenton, The Enterprise (Brockton)

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University men’s basketball team had a chance to make things interesting at the top of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference standings.

A victory by the Bears over first-place Salem State University on Wednesday night would have moved BSU within one-half game of the Vikings with three games to go.

Salem State didn’t let that happen, however, clinching at least a share of the regular-season title plus home-court advantage throughout the MASCAC tournament.

The Vikings led nearly the entire way and defeated the Bears, 88-73, for their 13th consecutive victory to improve to 20-3.

Despite the effort of BSU sophomore Dimitri St. Louis of Brockton, who had the best game of his career, Salem State (10-0) now has plenty of breathing room over the Bears (7-2 in the conference, 14-8 overall) after sweeping the season series.

St. Louis, a Cardinal Spellman High graduate, had a career-best 27 points with four 3-pointers and added seven rebounds and four steals in 38 minutes.

“The goal now,″ said Bears coach Joe Farroba, “is to finish the season 10-2 and then we get a bye, then play a semifinal game here and hopefully we go play them again (in the MASCAC final).″

BSU was frustrated every time it tried to make a run at Salem State, getting as close as five with less than seven minutes remaining.

But the Vikings always had an answer, especially after the Bears pulled within 68-63 on a 3-pointer by St. Louis and a three-point play by Rayshon Ward of Plymouth.

Salem State never led BSU get closer than six after that and eventually used a 7-0 run to put the game away.

“We fought back and we had our opportunities, but we missed some bunnies that hurt us,″ said Farroba. “I’m real disappointed. Some guys I expected games out of really didn’t perform tonight. They kept our big guns in check.

“That’s a good team. Every time we made the run, they answered. Good teams answer and they did it. I’m just very disappointed.″

Salem State took the lead for good at 18-16 with 13:57 left in the half and was up, 47-38, at the break.

Whenever the Bears threatened, Shaquan Murray (24) or Drew Healy (20 points, 11 rebounds) kept the Vikings in control.

St. Louis hit 11 of his 19 shots in addition to playing tight defense in his best performance for BSU.

“Dimitri St. Louis was off the charts,″ said Farroba. “He couldn’t have had a better game. He absolutely carried us.

“He’s got some ability that can really stretch. He’s so athletic and it looks so unassuming when he runs. He’s been playing with a lot of energy and defensively he’s getting up on people and denying people.″

Ward added 17 points and Joseph Carty had his 14th double-double of the season with 13 points and 13 rebounds plus five assists.

Salem State has now won outright or shared 31 titles in 47 years.

“They’ve got it going,″ said Farroba. “They’re a top-10 team in New England and I think they’re being underrated.″