ROME, Ga. - Berry's Tim Miles scored 20 points, but the Vikings couldn't quite come all the way back from a 15-point deficit as Shorter defeated Berry 72-63 Monday at Shorter's Winthrop-King Centre.

Berry (12-9) led for most of a tightly-played first half, eventually taking a 29-27 lead into the lockerroom at halftime.

But Shorter (20-5) would open the second half with 17 straight points to go ahead 44-29. Berry was held scoreless for the first 6:44 of the second half until Mike Voso scored on a turnaround jumper in the middle of the key.

Counting the last 55 seconds of the first half, Berry was held without a point for a stretch that lasted 7:39.  The Vikings two-point advantage turned into a 15-point deficit during that time.

Still, Berry fought back, pulling to within six points after Stefan Woods nailed a 3-pointer, and then followed with a breakaway layup after a Shorter turnover to cut the deficit to 45-39 with just over 11 minutes to play.

Berry would continue to slice into the margin, completing an 18-5 run when Jonathan Abrams scored on a fast break with 8:34 on the clock to make the score 49-47. 

But Shorter would answer with another run, scoring seven consecutive points to break open a nine-point advantage with six-and-a-half minutes remaining.

The closest the Vikings would get the rest of the way was four points, when Cass LeBlanc hit a free throw with 2:45 remaining to make the score 58-54.

David Holloman, Stefan Woods and Jonathan Abrams scored eight points each for the Vikings.  Holloman also pulled down a season-high 15 rebounds.

Walter Hill led the Hawks with 24 points, while Marqise Wright finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds and former Berry forward Johnathan Crawford scored 17 points.

The Vikings will look to get back on the winning track Wednesday evening when they host Maryville College at the Cage Center.  Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

- BerryVikings.com -