Michael Johnson recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds and was one of four Vikings to score in double-figures as (RV) Berry defeated Birmingham-Southern 77-74 Friday night in Southern Athletic Association play from Birmingham, Ala.
Chase Ellis scored 13 points for BC in the win, with
Robbie Rusciano netting a dozen and
Braxton Benham scoring 10 to go along with a game-high three steals.
Berry (12-2, 3-1 SAA) trailed 40-36 at the half, but thanks in part to an 11-0 run near the midway stages of the second half, the Vikings took a 62-53 lead. The run was capped by back-to-back 3-pointers from Benham and Johnson.
BSC (8-8, 3-2 SAA) would rally to tie the score at 73-all with 2:47 to go. The score would stay the same for over two minutes until Johnson drew a foul with 23 seconds to go in the contest. The seniour would drain both free-throws to give the Vikings the lead back.
On their next possession, the Panthers would be called for a foul, with
Chase Ellis drawing the offensive infraction to give the ball back to BC. Benham would quickly be fouled and would make one of his two shots at the line to stretch the lead to three, 76-73. The Vikings would clamp down on the perimeter, not allowing BSC to get off a game-tying attempt. Eventually, a foul with two seconds to go gave BSC two free-throws, but a violation would be called on the second attempt, giving BC the ball back ahead by two. The Vikings would get the ball in to Benham, who made 1-of-2 at the line to make it a three-point cushion. BSC would try to get the ball to midcourt on an inbound pass and call a timeout, but the catching Panther landed out of bounds before ever having the ball in the court, giving BC the ball on the turnover. From there, the Vikings would get the ball in to end the game.
As a team, the Vikings went 10-of-28 from 3-point territory, with BSC only making five shots from distance. BSC had 19 turnovers, compared to just 12 for the Vikings. Ellis led the Vikings with five assists.
Berry will be back in action at Millsaps this Sunday at 3 p.m. CST.
