By Matthew D. Stokes
BerryVikings.com Staff Writer

ROME, Ga. – Mac Whalen led five Berry players in double figures with 22 points and 13 rebounds as the Vikings held on for an 83-80 victory over visiting Huntingdon Tuesday evening at the Cage Center. 

The win was the second straight for Berry, and avenged a pair of earlier-season losses to Huntingdon.

Berry (2-17) led by as many as 12 points in the first half as Whalen nearly posted a double-double in that 20 minutes alone, totaling 11 points and nine rebounds. In addition to Whalen's first half effort, Cody Marsh had 10 points and five rebounds. At halftime Berry held a 39-29 lead.

"It seems like these last two games in particular we've really moved the ball well, and it's been more on pass than on dribble," said Berry head coach Jeff Haarlow. "I thought we did a really good job defensively, making it uncomfortable for them."

The Vikings looked as though they had the game put away, holding a 77-65 advantage with just over two minutes remaining in the contest.  But the Hawks (6-13), who shot 56.8 percent from the field in the second half after hitting just 31.4 percent of their shots in the opening 20 minutes, clawed back on the strength of a 15-5 run, pulling to within 82-80 when Courtnee Edgar hit a pair of free throws with nine seconds left to play.

After Edgar's second free throw, Huntingdon fouled Jonathan Abrams with seven seconds remaining.  The Berry guard hit one of two charity shots to give the Vikings a three-point cushion and the Hawks one last opportunity to send the game into overtime.  But Justin Dooley's 3-point shot clanked off the rim just before time expired.   

 "In our first 19 games, we've only had five home games," said Haarlow, whose team's two most recent games have been at home. "And when a young group played on the road as much as we did, it's hard to find confidence and success. We're familiar with our surroundings so we've played better."

Nasser Almulla, Michael Schulte and Abrams each tallied 13 points, and Marsh added 12 for Berry.  All 13 of Almulla's points came in the first 13 minutes of the second half.

Jeremiah Thomas led four Huntingdon players in double figures with a game high 23 points and 12 rebounds.  Jason Varney scored 16 points, Austin Hill added 14 and Edgar chipped in 12.

The Vikings will return to play Maryville College on Feb. 8 in Maryville, Tenn., at 7 p.m.

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