By Matthew D. Stokes, BerryVikings.com Lead Writer

ROME, Ga. -- Jonathan Abrams made a runner with 0.6 seconds left in overtime to lift Berry over visiting Piedmont, 75-74, on Monday night.

Berry, which snapped a six game skid, improved to 2-6. Piedmont fell to 0-7.

Berry fell behind by as much as seven points in the first five minutes of the first half but came back to take the lead heading into the locker room at halftime, 35-28. Alton Honors II poured in 16 first-half points for Piedmont.

Hot shooting brought Piedmont to within three points with less than seven minutes remaining, but a quick 5-0 run stretched Berry's lead back to eight. With just over two minutes to play and the lead now only a point, Abrams nailed a three-pointer to give Berry some breathing room at 62-58, leading to a Piedmont timeout. But Piedmont responded with a three-pointer and then a three-point play to dart ahead, 64-62.

In the final minute, Berry drew even as Lee McCloud rattled in the game-tying three-pointer from the corner with 6.3 seconds on the clock, sending the game into an overtime period.

"Lee obviously hit a big shot," said Berry Head Coach Jeff Haarlow. "It's a good time to knock that thing down at the end."

Piedmont scored the first five points in overtime, but Berry tied the game up, 73-73, just past the 1:30 mark on a Abrams three-pointer that rattled in. After a Piedmont free throw appeared to seal the deal at 74-73, Abrams laid in a left-handed hook to give Berry a 75-74 lead with 0.6 seconds.

Piedmont's halfcourt heave fell short, giving Berry its first win since November.

Abrams paced Berry with 19 points while Mac Whalen and Lake Graham also reached double figures with 15 and 12 points respectively. Honors II led Piedmont's offensive attack with 26 points in addition to hauling in 11 rebounds. Jessie Jenkins notched 21 points and 11 rebounds for Piedmont. Berry's win came in spite of the team being beat on the boards, 49-39.

"We've got to get better defensively," said Haarlow of what the team needs to improve upon, "and we got to rebound the basketball a lot better."

The Vikings return to action on Dec. 28 when they travel to Virginia to face Emory & Henry.