Berry's starting backcourt of Tim Miles and Kendall Gadie combined for 36 points and the Vikings withstood a furious rally by the University of the South en route to a 65-62 victory in the Lon Varnell Classic Sunday in Sewanee, Tenn.
Berry (6-3) looked to have a comfortable 63-50 advantage with just over four-and-a-half minutes remaining in the game, but Sewanee's Valentino Bryant scored seven consecutive points in a 57-second stretch to pull the Tigers to within six points. Lewis Affronti then drilled a 3-pointer with 2:57 remaining in the game and Anvil Nelson hit a jumper at the 2:07 mark to give the Tigers 12 straight points and pull to within a point.
Sewanee (4-4) had an opportunity to take the lead with 41 seconds left to play, but Matt Cowan's 3-point attempt missed and was hauled in by Berry's Cass LeBlanc. On the next possession, Nelson fouled LeBlanc, who buried two free throws to give the Vikings a three-point lead with 19 seconds remaining.
Affronte and Tony Marelle would each attempt to game-tying 3-pointers in the final seconds for Sewanee, but each missed and Berry escaped with the win.
Ironically, it was a 12-0 Berry run earlier in the second half that helped the Vikings build the needed cushion. Sewanee led 46-44 with 12 minutes to go in the game, but Berry scored the next dozen points, seven by Miles, to take control.
Miles finished with 19 points and Gadie scored 17 for the Vikings. The two combined to shoot 13-for-24 (54 percent) from the field, as Miles hit 6-of-11 shots (including 3-for-5 from 3-point territory) and Gadie was 7-for-13.
LeBlanc was even hotter, hitting all four of his shots from the field, including his only 3-point attempt, and all four of his free throws for 13 points. The freshman also hauled down a game-high 10 rebounds.
David Holloman also finished in double figures with 11 points.
The Vikings shot 48 percent (23-for-48) as a team.
Bryant led Sewanee with 19 points. Affront added 12 and Nelson and Trent Williams chipped in 10 each for Sewanee.
Berry returns to action Dec. 29, when it plays at Embry-Riddle in the Land of Magic Classic in Daytona Beach, Fla.
- BerryVikings.com -
