MOUNT BERRY, Ga. – The No. 19 Centre men's basketball team saw its 13-game winning streak come to a close Friday evening, falling by a slim 60-58 margin at Berry in Southern Athletic Association action.
 
In their first loss of the calendar year, the Colonels fall to 20-3 overall and 10-2 in the SAA, still firmly atop the conference standings. The host Vikings improve to 16-7 overall and 7-5 in-conference.
 
Dawson Crump scored 13 to lead Centre, which matched its lowest scoring output of the season.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
- Both sides were stagnant offensively to start the game, but six straight points from Crump helped Centre take an early 9-4 advantage.
- A layup from Jacob Bates helped Centre take a 15-6 lead and force a Berry timeout midway through the half.
- The Vikings started 0 of 10 from long range, facing a 13-point deficit after being held scoreless for more than five minutes of game time.
- The home side would rally late, however, and pulled within 28-23 at the half.
- Berry began the second half with eight straight points to wipe out the Colonels' lead, taking a 31-28 advantage of its own.
- Centre answered to regain the lead, sparking a back-and-forth half that saw nine total lead changes.
- The Vikings seemed poised to put the game away after pushing the advantage to 46-38 with under eight minutes remaining.
- Art Walker and Bailey Rakes hit back-to-back 3-pointers, and Bates laid in a bucket soon after to put Centre ahead, 50-49.  
- Despite a wild final minute, however, Berry managed to squeeze out a narrow victory behind some timely defensive stops and free throws.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Centre shot 42% (20-48) overall, well below its season average, and was only 11 of 20 from the charity stripe.
- The Colonel defense kept the Vikings to 41% (22-54) overall from the field.
- Crump, Walker and Jakob Spitzer each led the team with six rebounds.
 
UP NEXT
Centre meets Oglethorpe Sunday at 3 p.m. in Atlanta, with a chance to secure the SAA regular season championship.