MOUNT BERRY, GA- Tully Gilligan flirted with a double-double, Murray Kastner continued his sharpshooting from three-point range and Ryan Berger beat the buzzer as Millsaps tipped Berry 70-68 on Friday.
The Majors used a 9-0 run early in the contest to race out to an 11-6 lead. Freshman Jeremy Mogged drained a pair of threes and added a lay-in for eight quick points to lead the charge. A pair of Tully Gilligan three-point plays gave the Majors a three point lead at 34-31. At one point in the opening half, Gilligan scored nine straight points for the Majors. Kevin Wilson beat the buzzer with a three and the Majors went into the break up 37-31.
Murray Kastner began to take over in the second half. His layup and one by senior Nick Cortese gave the Majors a 43-34 edge. Berry went on a mini 9-4 run to narrow the gap to 47-43. Kastner went on to hit threes to put the Majors back up by five and then six points respectfully. Another Berry run, this time 8-0, tied the game at 64 with just under three minutes remaining. Kastner responded with another three and gave the Majors a 67-64 lead.
Johnathan Abrams hit a three and later a free throw to tie the game at 68. Abrams had a game high 29 for Berry. Out of the Abrams' free throw, the Majors called a timeout with just seconds remaining. Gilligan found Ryan Berger for his fifth field goal and ninth and tenth points of the game as time expired, leading the Majors to a 70-68 win and their second buzzer-beater of the season.
The Majors placed four players in double figures as they picked up win number five on the year and third in conference. Gilligan led the team with 16, Kastner added 15, Brandon Allison had 11 and Berger added 10. The big stat of the game was points in the paint, where the Majors had a 42-24 edge.
The Majors swept the Vikings on the season, improving to 5-19, 3-10 on the year. They will wrap up the regular season in Atlanta as they take on Oglethorpe. Tip time between the Stormy Petrels and Majors is set for 2pm central.