ROME, Ga. -- Despite Tyler Harville's 17 points, the Berry College men's basketball team fell to Centre College, 71-61, Friday night in the Cage Center.

The loss dropped the Vikings to 7-17 overall and 3-10 in the Southern Athletic Association. The win improved the Colonels to 19-4 and 10-3.

Despite the defeat, Berry shot 45.8-percent (22-48) to Centre's 42.6-percent (20-47).

For the Colonels, Blake Scinta scored a game-high 26 points. Scinta was 10-of-19 shooting, as well as 6-for-9 from the free throw line. He also collected 10 rebounds in the win for Centre.

Working to decrease an early Centre lead, the Vikings gradually gained momentum throughout the first half and were down, 30-28, at halftime.

Coleman Ellingsworth's layup, followed by a three-pointer from Harville, gave the Vikings their first lead of the game, 42-41, with 15:27 remaining.

The teams switched leads twice more. Centre, however, went ahead with a little more than 13 minutes left to play and didn't trail again.

"We had a good effort tonight and I don't think the score reflected how close the game was," said Berry Head Coach Jeff Rogers. "We have continued to improve and we can compete with anyone in our league. That's what we wanted heading to the conference tournament."

Harville's 17 points led the Viking's offense. He was 6-for-11 shooting, and he also sank 5 three-point shots in the loss for Berry.

Logan Thigpen put up 9 points for the Vikes. Thigpen was 4-of-8 shooting, as well as 1-for-2 from the free throw line.

For the BC defense, Lee McCloud notched 3 steals on the night. McCloud also posted 6 points and dished 5 assists in the loss.

BC will host Sewanee on Sunday, Feb. 22, at 3 p.m.​