Freshman Guard Fills Stat Sheet, But LaGrange Wins Big

Berry guard Nasser Almulla scored a game high 17 points, but host LaGrange defeated the Vikings 99-57 in a men's basketball game Saturday in LaGrange, Ga.

After LaGrange (3-6) hit the opening shot of the game, the Vikings' Mac Whalen drilled a 3-pointer to give Berry (0-6) a 3-2 lead 1:43 into the contest.  Eighteen seconds later, the Panthers' Nick Mitchell hit a jumper to put LaGrange back in the driver's seat, and the home team never trailed again.

The Panthers led 49-21 at half, and extended the lead to as many as 45 points late in the game.

"I know we're better than we're playing," Berry coach Jeff Haarlow said.  "We need to continue to make strides in certain areas.  Adversity makes you stronger."

Almulla also tied for game high honors with eight rebounds and three assists for Berry.

Whalen and Alex Smith added eight points each for the Vikings, while Lake Graham and Michael Schulte scored seven each.

Joey Anderkavich and Nick Mitchell scored 16 points each to lead five players in double figure for the Panthers.  Catrell Maclin added 12, and Peter Munch and Denzel Robinson chipped in 11 apiece.

Berry is scheduled to return to action Wednesday, when they travel to Carrollton to face West Georgia at 7:30 p.m.

- BerryVikings.com -