Faulkner falls to Berry
January 31
It may have been unseasonably warm outside Saturday afternoon but it was frigid inside Tine Davis Gymnasium again for Faulkner, which made just 31 percent of its shots in a 71-61 Southern States Athletic Conference loss to Berry.
The Eagles (12-10, 4-7 SSAC) had a remarkable 21 offensive rebounds, but failed to convert numerous opportunities around the basket en route to their fourth-straight conference loss. Berry (14-8, 5-6 SSAC) scored the game’s first basket and the Vikings never lost the lead, building as much as a 15-point lead in both halves. Faulkner did cut the lead to 5 on a three-pointer from Josh Gholston with 4;49 left but could get no closer.
“I just don’t have any answers,’’ Faulkner coach Jim Sanderson said. “We missed some easy shots, and I don’t think we played with the intensity we needed for most of the first half. In the second half we played harder, but we just couldn’t make enough shots to get on top. I was really proud of Justin Garner, who really got after it in the second half on defense.”
Garner scored only four points, but did have three steals and forced several more turnovers during the Eagles’ run late in the game. Gholston led Faulkner with 14 points, while Randell Moore had 11 points and 11 rebounds. Berry’s Daniel Ferguson paced the Vikings with 23 points, with Matt Mixer and Jonathan Crawford adding 10 points apiece.
Faulkner dominated the boards, outrebounding Berry 48-31, but committed 20 turnovers.
The Eagles travel to Waleska, Ga., Thursday to fave Reinhardt. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.