By Matthew D. Stokes
BerryVikings.com Staff Writer

Lake Graham led all scorers with 18 points, but Berry could not overcome six Piedmont players finishing in double figures as the Vikings lost to the visiting Lions 91-65 in a Sunday afternoon matchup at the Cage Center.

The Vikings scored the first basket of the game and led for parts of the first three minutes but quickly fell behind as Piedmont shot a scintillating 70 percent from the field as well as 66.7 percent from 3-point range in the first half. At the half the visiting Lions led 56-25.

"Our shot selection in the first half wasn't the best, and that led to a lot of transition threes and open looks for them," said Berry coach Jeff Haarlow.

Piedmont's shooting success regressed in the second half while Berry's improved, allowing the Vikings to outscore their opponent 40-35 in the last 20 minutes of the game.

"It was an even game in the second half," Haarlow said.

In addition to his 18 points, Graham also paced Berry with seven rebounds while Nasser Almulla chipped in 12 points.

For Piedmont, Jessie Jenkins led the charge with 15 points and 11 rebounds. He was joined in double figures by Josh Haymore and Michael Ross, who scored 12 points apiece; Dylan Delany, who added 11 points, and Tyler Arnold and Chris Meeks, who chipped in 10 each.

The Vikings will return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Montgomery, Ala., to face Huntingdon College at 7 p.m.

- BerryVikings.com -