ATLANTA, Ga. - Men's Basketball traveled to Oglethorpe University, where they fell to the Stormy Petrels by a final score of 98-90.
Berry's scoring production was fueled by a career-high 23 points (7 three-pointers) from sophomore Drew Winegarden and 22 points from senior Braxton Benham.
The Vikings began their scoring with Benham dishing the ball to Winegarden, who buried a three-pointer. A few plays later, Benham picked an Oglethorpe ball handler's pocket and took the ball to the basket for an easy fast-break layup that gave the Vikings an early 5-4 lead with 18 minutes left to play in the half.
After falling behind 11-8, Winegarden found himself open again and sank another three-pointer to even the score at 11 with just under fifteen minutes left in the first half. A scoring slump ensued for the Viking offense midway through the half, as they fell behind Oglethorpe, 30-17 with 7 minutes left in the half.
Later in the half, Benham swung a pass through to Winegarden, who would splash home his third three-pointer of the game and bring the Vikings within 10 points of the Oglethorpe lead. After another Oglethorpe run, Isaac Martin answered with a three-pointer to bring the Vikings back within 14 points with just over two minutes left in the first half.
Two Benham free throws calmly brought the Vikings back within 12. On the very next possession, Parker Godwin read a pass perfectly and stole it. He then went the other way, where he was fouled and knocked down two free throws to cut the deficit to just 10, 33-43 to close out the half.
The opening minutes of the second half saw the Stormy Petrels get off to a hot shooting start that was fueled by the energy of their home crowd. At the 15-minute mark, they held a commanding 62-44 lead. Winegarden responded for the Vikings as he eyed his target from beyond the arc and drained yet another three-pointer to cut the lead to 15.
Oglethorpe continued to ride their momentum though, as they opened up a 19-point lead, 57-76, with 7:57 left to play in the game. Just after the 8-minute media timeout, Isaac Martin weaved his way to the basket and finished a tough layup to bring the Vikings within 17. A few plays later, Mason Lawrence came down with an offensive rebound and kicked it out to a locked and loaded Winegarden, who would hit his fourth three-pointer and bring the Vikings back within 17, 79-62.
The two teams continued to go back and forth down the stretch which played into Oglethorpe's hands. Still trailing by 16 at the four-minute mark, the Vikings desperately needed a run. A Parker Godwin free throw and a Jacob Morgan put-back cut the Oglethorpe lead down to just 13. On the ensuing Viking possession, Benham drew two defenders and kicked the ball out to Godwin, who buried a three-pointer to cut the deficit to just ten points with just over three minutes to play.
With 40 seconds to play, Benham dashed to the rim and finished through contact for an and-one that cut the Stormy Petrel lead to just five points, 92-87. This was as close as the Vikings would get as they were outlasted by Oglethorpe by a final score of 98-90.
Berry will be back in action in Cage Arena for senior day against Millsaps on February 16 at 3 PM ET.
