BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Birmingham-Southern men's basketball team fought through a tough battle with Berry College Sunday afternoon in their second overtime bout this season to win 83-76.  The Panthers are now 7-9 overall and move to 3-2 in Southern Athletic Association play.

James McLean (Maitland, Fla./Winter Park HS) led with a team and career-high 25 points.

Harrison Deneka (Memphis, Tenn./Christian Brothers HS), Ian Thom (Cold Spring, N.Y./Croton-Harmon HS), and Evan Lewis (Birmingham, Ala./Ramsay HS) also finished in double-figures.  Deneka scored the team's first 12 points, and finished with 19.  Thom and Lewis earned 13 and 11 points, respectively

BSC went into the break down 34-30.  They would trail by as many as 10 before mounting a comeback.  The Panthers went on a 10-0 run over a 3:00 span and tied the game up on a three by James McLean (Maitland, Fla./Winter Park HS) with 11:37 left.  After a Viking jumper, they would take the 47-46 lead on a three by Alex Perkins (Gadsden, Ala./Westbrook Christian School).

The Vikings trailed by just three with 29 seconds to play.  McLean hit the one of two free throws to extend the lead to four.  But Alton McCloud hit a three with 18 seconds left to put the lead to just one.  Berry fouled Thom as soon as he crossed half court to send him to the line. The senior drilled both free throws and put the lead back out to three with 15 seconds remaining.  On Berry's last possession of regulation, Cole DenBesten hit a three with eight seconds left to send it to overtime.

BSC outscored the Vikings 16-9 in the overtime to secure the victory.

The Panthers continue their conference home stand on Friday, Jan. 20 in a doubleheader with the women's team.  They take on league leader Centre College at 8 p.m. after the women tipoff at 6 p.m.

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