BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Hunter Smoak scored a game-high 18 points, but Berry College's late rally came up short, 83-78, on Sunday at Birmingham-Southern.

The Vikings dropped to 5-20 and 2-12 in the Southern Athletic Association. The Panthers improved to 16-9 and 10-4.

Smoak was 7-16 shooting and led four BC players in double-digits. Owen Jacobs had 15 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Lee McCloud added 13 and freshman Douglas Cotter had a season-best 11 points.

The Vikings trailed 38-24 at the break. The home club led 71-50 with 7:34 remaining before BC had another of its patented comebacks.

Berry then went on a 22-4 run. The Vikings trimmed the BSC margin to three points on three occasions in the last 2:16, but got no closer.

Larry Thomas had 15 points to lead the Panthers.

The eight-seeded Vikings will play Centre College, the top seed, on Friday night. The SAA Tournament will be held at Centre in Danville, Ky.