Berry's Almulla Tallies Double-Double, But Vikings' Late Runs Comes Up Short

guard Nasser Almulla scored 12 points and hauled down a game high 11 rebounds, but host Centre College defeated the Vikings 69-54 on the first day of the Papa John's/Country Hearth Inn Tournament in Danville, Ky., Thursday.

Berry kept the game within its grip throughout the first half, staying within single digits of the Colonels until Centre's James Melloan converted a layup with 35 seconds left in the opening half that made the score 32-22. That would end up being the halftime score.

Centre would stretch the lead to as many as 19 points with under eight minutes remaining in the game, but a resilient Berry group would claw back to within 10 points when guard Michael Schulte scored on a layup with 51 seconds left on the clock. 

Centre (7-3) would go on to shoot 8-for-8 from the free throw line in the final 49 seconds to make sure the Vikings (0-10) would not get any closer.

Almulla and Hunter Smoak shared team high honors with 12 points apiece, while Schulte added 11 for the Vikings.  Lake Graham tallied nine points and Cody Marsh and Kyle Wilson finished off Berry's scoring with five points each.

Almulla's 11 boards were a career high for the freshman point guard. He also led the team in scoring for the sixth time this season and the fourth time in the past five games, and passed for a team high four assists.

Centre's Jeff Mullaney led all players with 15 points, and was joined in double figures by Greg Ross, who scored 14 points, and Collin Lopez, who chipped in 12.

The Vikings will play Johns Hopkins in the tournament's consolation game Friday.

- BerryVikings.com -