Vikings Row Past Colonels

DANVILLE, Ky. - Vikings Men's Basketball (6-9 overall, 3-1 SAA) dominated in tonight's SAA match-up against the Colonels of Centre (5-10 overall, 0-4 SAA) for a big victory of 94-45.

A season high 16 three's and 5 blocks for Berry made scoring look easy and rim protection look fierce in the SAA win.

Once both teams took the floor, there was no stopping the Vikings. Leading from the tip off an offensive rebound and a foul that sent Braxton Benham to the line for two, there was no turning back. Drew Winegarden brought the rain from Mount Berry to Danville beginning in the 16th minute of play with his first made three of the night, and his second just two minutes later (12-7).

Two baskets from the Colonels tied the game but senior, Benham stepped up and swished a three to reclaim a Viking advantage. Benham's three surged a 22-0 run. This dominant run secured the first half and included multiple three's, two from Jordan Krueger, who had a career high 15-points on the night that included five threes, and another from the freshman Drew Winegarden (38-14).

Centre was unable to score until the clock hit 4:20, but whatever momentum that bucket may have created, Krueger quickly shut it down and he popped another long ball and leading scorer Blake Campbell matched it (44-16).

With an enormous lead at almost the halfway point, the Vikings began to have some fun as their strong defense led to offensive success. At the end of the first half, Campbell sent the Colonels to the locker room after a huge dunk silenced the Centre fans and Berry's bench went insane.

Up by 27 to start the second half, Berry looked to maintain their lead and hold off the Southern Athletic Association foe. A 16-2 run, in favor of the visitor, across the first seven minutes in the second half, gave Berry their largest lead of the night at 38-points (65-27).

Centre tried to regain hope with a few baskets but as Berry put in fresh faces, they never missed a beat. Cameron Pope hit two triples in the span of three possessions to raise the deficit to a whopping 44-points, and Ryan Luttrell chimed in on the party as he closed out the game with two made from beyond the arc in the final two minutes of play as the Vikings easily rowed past Centre in tonight's away contest.

Catch your three-point superstars back in action tomorrow at Sewanee. Tip-off will follow the women's game at 3:00 PM ET.