EMORY, Va. – The Berry College Men's Basketball Team (2-1) picked up an 88-86 victory over Emory & Henry College (2-2) at Bob Johnson Court on Saturday afternoon. The Vikings used a 22-for-24 (91.7%) peformance from the free throw line in route to the victory.
Berry got out to a 10-3 lead at the 16:14 mark of the first half but Emory & Henry kept things close, eventually tying things up, 28-28, with 5:45 on the clock. Neither team led by more than two points the rest of the period, as the halftime score was 40-38 in favor of the Vikings.
After Berry got the first basket of the second half, E&H went on a 9-0 run to take a 47-42 lead with 17:05 on the clock. The Wasps kept a five-plus point lead for the majority of the half and led by as much as eight on several occasions. Down by eight with 3:11 to go in the contest, the Vikings went on an 11-0 run for their first lead (79-76) since the 19:17 mark of the second half thanks to a trio of three-pointers by Mac Whalen.
Emory & Henry was able to regain the lead with four straight points but fouls by the Wasps gave Berry the chance to win the game at the line. The Vikings hit seven free throws in the final minute of the game, but E&H kept things interesting. Senior guard Malcolm Green (Marshville, N.C.) hit a three pointer from the top of the key with 18 seconds left to tie the game at 86, but Whalen converted a pair of free throws with six seconds on the clock to go back up. E&H freshman guard Marquise Coleman (Norfolk, Va.) went through traffic and got a shot off as time expired, but it would not fall and Berry claimed the win.
Whalen led the way for the Vikings with 24 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals. Owen Jacobs notched a double-double with 22 points and 13 rebounds while Lake Graham notched 17 points, six boards and two blocks. Lee McCloud ran the offense for Berry, scoring five points and adding seven assists and three rebounds. Berry held a 22-15 advantage on second chance points and shot 42.9 percent (30-for-70) for the game.
E&H was paced by Green's 27-point, seven-rebound afternoon while Coleman added 11 points and three assists. Senior forward Tyler Mullins (Hazard, Ky.) notched six points, five rebounds, four steals, three assists and two blocks while senior guard Stephen Brown (Charleston, S.C.) had nine points and three boards. The Wasps outscored the Vikings, 56-42, in the paint put fell victim to poor free throw shooting (11-for-22).
Emory & Henry will remain at home for its next game as it hosts Bluefield College on Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m.
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