JACKSON, Miss.- Berry Vikings Men's Basketball fell in their season opener on the road to the Blazers of Belhaven 94-87.
The Blazers took the lead early with a made three in the opening twenty seconds. Leading scorer
Blake Campbell tied the game with his first three points of the night on a and one and gave the Vikings the lead with a three to follow.
The game became a back and forth affair with the Vikings holding the lead with 10 minutes to go in the half at 23-19.
Jordan Krueger's jumper sat the Vikings up by seven, but the Blazers refused to go away. Brining the game back within three, Belhaven tested the Vikings with a four man substitution that deemed a great matchup for Berry. The Vikings took advantage and shot up by 9 as Campbell sunk his second made three.
Three made free throws for the Vikings ended the first half as both teams headed to the locker room with a score of 43-37, Berry.
After halftime Berry continued with fast break points and more made free throws. For the night each team shot close to 40 foul shots with an average of 70% and higher.
Twenty of Campbell's 36 points were from the foul line as the Vikings kept attacking and rose to +11 over the Blazers to start the second half.
Belhaven made a 9-2 run to bring the game within reach, mostly sponsored by second chance points. The Blazers topped the Vikings with 17 second chance points compared to Berry's 6 throughout the game with 13 offensive rebounds it was difficult to keep them off the boards.
At the nine minute mark, things took a turn as a made Blazer's jumper brought the game within one and they took the lead seconds later in the paint (66-65).
After a 5-0 Belhaven run to push the lead, Campbell tried to regain control with a pair of free throws to tie the game at 69. Before the five minute mark, the CCS team held on to their lead with a 6-0 run and key late free throws to hold off the Vikings.
Berry will return to action on Tuesday at Division I, Belmont University at 7:30 PM ET.
Â
