SEWANEE, Tenn. –
JD Gardner netted 19 points and
Jack Bakken recorded a double-double off the bench, but Sewanee struggled offensively and four Berea players scored in double figures in the Mountaineers' 80-69 win over the Tigers in men's basketball action here Sunday at Juhan Gymnasium.
Sewanee made just 11-for-50 from 3-point range against a 1-3-1 matchup zone by Berea, with Gardner hitting five of those triples in the second half.
Reid Carrier was 2-for-12 and
Fletcher Bigham missed all seven of his attempts.
Bakken finished with 12 points and 17 rebounds, including 10 offensive boards, but 16 turnovers and all of the missed shots did not allow the Tigers to find a rhythm offensively.
Sewanee led 36-34 at the half behind eight points from
Nikolas Avaliani and 10 rebounds by Bakken, but Berea registered nine of the first 11 points of the period, including two layups by Jae'dyn Gist and a 3-pointer and a field goal from Nathaniel Barrow.
Bakken's putback and a floater from Bigham pulled the Tigers within 45-42, but Bigham missed a three on the next offensive possession and Zach Hudson netted his 3-point attempt for the Mountaineers. Baskets by Braden Hudson and Andrew Jones pushed the Berea advantage to 55-45 with 10 minutes to play.
Gardner was Sewanee's only offense for a six-minute stretch thereafter, connecting on four 3-pointers, but the Tigers were unable to stop Berea on the defensive end, with layups by Anthony Hamm, Jaylen Black and Zach Hudson.
Gardner's third triple pulled Sewanee within seven before a 6-0 spurt by the Mountaineers, including two more baskets by Zach Hudson, pushed the lead to 67-54 with five minutes to go. Gardner made another three before a field goal by Avaliani and a 3-pointer from Carrier got the Tigers within seven, 69-62, with just over two minutes left.
Berea connected on 8-of-10 free throws in the final 63 seconds, putting the game away.
Barrow posted a team-best 15 points while Zavian Douglas added 14. Zach Hudson finished with 13 points, Gist collected 12 and Black recorded nine points, four assists and five steals.
The Mountaineers led early thanks to 3-pointers from Douglas and Barrow as well as a putback from Douglas, but Avaliani answered with a triple and a layup.
Jacob Amonett's 3-pointer started an 11-5 run for Sewanee, with Bigham making a layup and triples from Carrier and Avaliani putting the Tigers in front, 21-14, and forcing a timeout by Berea.
Black posted two baskets for the visitors and Bryce Riley connected on a layup, cutting the Sewanee lead to three, but Amonett drilled his second 3-pointer of the period and Carrier's layup pushed the advantage back to seven.
Barrow posted his second triple of the half and Gist added two layups. Douglas registered a basket plus the free throw and Gist made two foul shots with 8.1 seconds left in the half, cutting the Tigers edge to 36-34 at the break.
Avaliani led the Tigers with eight points and Bakken collected 10 rebounds, six offensive, leading to eight second-chance points for the home team. Douglas paced the Mountaineers with 10 points.
Sewanee travels to LaGrange College on Wednesday and hosts Asbury University next Saturday at 3 p.m.
