MOUNT BERRY, Ga. - Berry keeps their win streak alive with their semifinals defeat over Sewanee in today's Southern Athletic Association game, 86-80.

Berry Post Game Press Conference

Having met two other times this season, both teams knew today would be a tough contest. The Vikings stormed past the Tigers in game one earlier this season but Sewanee held strong when they entered The Cage for game two, forcing an overtime win for Berry.

Bad blood between the two with memories from last year's conference championship game, where Sewanee won at the buzzer. The visiting team showed up to play once more.

In the first half it was a back-and-forth affair. Two free-throws from Sewanee started the high scoring first half. Their foul shots pushed a 5-0 run before the Viking could get on the board by a Blake Campbell three pointer. Tied at 7, Campbell took the lead on their home court, one that was not given back up for the entire first half.

Seven minutes in, Isaac Martin's triple created separation at 21-14 and a big dunk from Braxton Benham held a seven-point lead halfway through the first.

The Tigers refused to give up and landed a 6-0 run to cut the deficit and gain some momentum before halftime.

Within two minutes, Sewanee went on another run, this time nine to nothing, brining the game to one possession basketball, 37-35.

Under a minute remaining in the first, both teams made baskets, but Sewanee ended it with a buzzer three to cut the game to two, 42-40.

After the half, the Vikings needed to do better from the foul line, seeing it 17 times and only converting nine.

Jordan Krueger fired one up from outside to begin the second half, but the Tigers responded with a bucket of their own to hush the home crowd. Five minutes in, the game sat at a one-point difference, however the Vikings refused to give up their lead they worked for and making 4-4 from the free throw line to make up for the first half. 

From then on, both teams had issues putting the ball through the net, with the defense amping up their game. Braxton Benham's five steals led the Berry defense and snatched any momentum the Tigers thought they had halfway through the second half.

Ten minutes left to play, Sewanee got hot from behind the arc and cut it to three (67-64). An offensive foul from the Tigers followed by an and one from Jacob Morgan really put the game in the hands of the Vikings (73-67).

A quick 4-0 run from the visiting Tigers put the game back within their reach (73-71), and then tied it with three minutes to go at 73.

The Vikings responded with an alley to Campbell from Benham for a quick two plus the free throw, hyping the crowd, and still refusing to give up their lead.

Big man, Riley Costas silenced Sewanee and forced a timeout under the two-minute mark with a huge corner three! (81-75)

When the Tigers needed a bucket under a minute, Campbell came up with a steal to take the game and land Martin on the foul line to sink one, 83-75.

The five seeded team Sewanee made a late three and continued to foul the Vikings in hopes that they would perform like they did the first half, but the Vikings prevailed and secured their way to the 2024 SAA Championship.

Berry will host and play in the Championship game tomorrow at 2:00 PM ET in The Cage against the seventh seeded Rhodes College.