MOUNT BERRY, Ga. - Berry Men's Basketball hosted #12 Christopher Newport University (12-3 overall) in a New Year's thriller that came down to the final minutes that resulted in a loss for the Vikings, 76-71.

Parker Godwin started the year with a quick bucket for the Vikings to take their first lead of the day. The Captains and Berry contended with each other and answered basket for basket across the first six minutes, but the Vikings still held the one-point lead (8-7).

Freshman, Isaac Martin's three lifted Berry to their largest lead of the first half at four and surged a 6-0 run that left the home team feeling good at the ten-minute mark (14-7). The next four minutes consisted of CNU fighting back and claiming their first lead of the game that would be held until Jordan Krueger nailed a free throw to tie the game at 21.

With three minutes to go in the first half, both teams battled it out at the rim as neither struggled to score. After a Captains made free throw with 40-seconds left, the Vikings leading scorer Blake Campbell hit a quick jumper and a huge defensive effort from Martin led to a steal and foul from CNU for two made free throws that lifted the Vikings up by one at the half (31-30).

Berry refused to take their foot off the gas to start the second half. The team went on a 6-0 run to push the score to 37-30. CNU began to claw their way back, but Braxton Benham switched gears and took on the Captains defense head on with 10-points in two minutes (47-37).

Halfway through the second half, the Vikings were still up ten after achieving their largest lead of 13 just a minute before. At the eight-minute mark, Christopher Newport began to prove why they are #12 as they dug deep and closed in on a one possession game with 7:09 to go (57-56).

Berry fended off the Captains a while longer, but eventually gave up the lead after a fast break turned into two points (60-59).

Four minutes left on New Year's day turned into a fight. The teams went back and forth, but a late three by CNU with 1:32 remaining lifted them up by seven (their largest lead of the game), 73-66.

Benham hit a quick step back three to hush the Captains and give the Vikings momentum to finish strong. Key free throws from Benham had the game within reach at 73-71.

In the final twenty seconds, CNU went 1-2 from the foul line and gave Berry an opportunity to hit a three to send the game to overtime, the shot came up just short and the Vikings fouled to try and gain back a quick possession, but Christopher Newport took the win.