MOUNT BERRY, Ga. - The Vikings fell just short at home in a Southern Athletic Association heavyweight battle against Sewanee in their first conference game of the year by a score of 81-78.

Senior guard Braxton Benham paced the Viking offensive effort with 23 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds. Braxton's ball control was also masterful in this one, as he only committed one turnover for the duration of the game.

Benham was aided by 14-point efforts from both Parker Godwin and Jacob Morgan, who each poured in big buckets to keep the Vikings within striking distance throughout the game.  

The two teams traded blows back and forth in the opening minutes of the first half, with no team gaining a sizable advantage on the scoreboard. After Sewanee was able to take a 17-12 lead with 14:20 to play in the first half, Braxton Benham responded with a nice layup to bring the Vikings within 3. A few possessions later, Braxton Benham found Jacob Morgan in transition for an easy fast-break layup, cutting the Sewanee lead to just one, 17-16, with 11:35 left in the first half.  

A few plays later, Parker Godwin joined in with a nifty steal that he turned into an easy layup that gave Berry a 17-16 lead with 11:13 to play. Sewanee would not lose their composure though, as they responded with a 7-0 run to take a 24-16 lead. Facing adversity, sophomore guard Canon Armstead entered the game and came up with huge plays for Berry. Shortly after checking in, Armstead found himself open off of a Braxton Benham dish where Canon drained a 3 pointer to cut the Sewanee lead to 3 with 8 minutes left in the first half. A few minutes later, Armstead drove to the rim with conviction and finished a layup through contact to cut the Sewanee lead to 33-29 with just over 3 minutes remaining in the half.  

Armstead did not stop his onslaught there though as he buried another three-pointer to bring the Vikings back within one point, with just 2:13 left in the first half. The sophomore guard then got fouled a few plays later and knocked down two free throws to give Berry a 36-35 lead at the halftime break.  

The second half started hot for the Vikings as Jacob Morgan and Parker Godwin each knocked down a three-pointer to give Berry a 42-37 lead early in the second half. The two teams found themselves knotted up at 49 with 13:22 left in the second period when Sewanee caught fire and ripped off a 7-0 run to set the Vikings back.  

The Vikings did not give in by any stretch of imagination. Parker Godwin drew contact and converted a box-office level layup and finished the and-one to cut the lead to 4, 61-57. With just over three minutes left to play, Jacob Morgan knocked down two free throws to cut the Sewanee lead to 3. Drew Winegarden then ignited The Cage Center with a three-pointer that brought Berry within just two points, 75-73. Sewanee played the free throw game down the stretch and outlasted the Vikings, 81-78.

Berry will be in action again on January 12 to take on Centre College in The Cage Center at 3 PM ET.