Vikings Top Hendrix Warriors 85-78

Courtesy Hendrix College Athletics Department

ROME, Ga. – The Hendrix College men’s basketball team suffered a 85-78 loss to Berry College in Southern Athletic Association action at the Cage Center on Sunday afternoon. With the loss, the Warriors fall to 5-9 overall and 0-3 in league play, while the Vikings improve to 3-9 and 1-2.

Hendrix shot 63 percent (10-of-16), but turned the ball over 10 times in the first half, leading to twice as many shots for Berry (18-of-32, 56%). The Vikings built on their 44-33 halftime lead, getting up to as many as 17 points with 4:59 left to play. Over the next four and a half minutes, the Warriors chipped at the deficit, going on a 19-7 run, to cut the lead to 83-78 with 11 seconds left. Mac Whalen sealed the win for Berry by sinking a pair of free throws with five seconds left.

For the game, Hendrix shot a season-best 51 percent (26-of-51) and went 5-of-15 from three-point range and 21-of-26 at the free throw line. Berry shot 52 percent (32-of-62), 7-of-10 from outside and 14-of-27 from the stripe. The Warriors had a 34-30 rebound advantage.

Senior guard Jaren Riley led Hendrix with 23 points, going 11-of-12 from the free throw line, and pulled down six rebounds. Junior forward Colton Primm had 18 points and two blocks and sophomore forward Luke Vance added 12 points and six boards. Freshman guard Drew Nikolovski scored 10 points to go with three assists and six boards and senior center Dayton Sheridan added nine points and two blocks. Freshman guard Jordan Taulton recorded season-highs with six points, five assists and three steals.

Whalen scored 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting and dished out seven assists to lead the Vikings. Jonathan Abrams had 18 points and seven assists and Jake Wright chipped in 11 points off the bench.

Hendrix will host SAA rival Rhodes College on Saturday at 4 p.m.