MOUNT BERRY, GEORGIA - Southwestern Men's Basketball earned a gritty road victory at Berry College on Friday night in front of a raucous crowd, 75-71. The win improves the Pirates record to 11-12 overall and 5-7 in the SAA. 

Southwestern previously struggled on Friday road games in the SAA. The Pirates flipped the script on Friday, matching the Vikings energy dominating the points in the paint (44-26) and winning the clutch moments. The Pirates led by one with 30 seconds to play before senior Luke Hatcher buried a dagger three to silence the gym. Four different Pirates scored double-figures in sophomore Aedan Lewis (20), senior Shobby Enakpene (18), junior Luke Mills (14), and freshman Neo Franco (11). 

The Pirates entered Friday night, desperately needing a victory over the third best team in the conference as Southwestern went 0-2 last weekend in danger of missing the conference tournament with only three games to play.

Friday's victory catapults the Pirates into fourth place, owning tiebreakers over Centre College and Sewanee who are also 5-7. The top six teams make the SAA conference tournament as Millsaps College and Oglethorpe University are currently the teams outside of the bubble at 3-8. However, Southwestern travels to Oglethorpe on Sunday needing a pivotal win to cement themselves. 

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• Both squads met in early January when the Vikings came out victorious at the Robertson Center, 79-77. 
• Southwestern started the same five: junior Zach Gomez, Hatcher, Enakpene, Mills, and Lewis. 
• Franco entered early and totaled five points, leading 16-11. 
• Berry found rhythm beyond the arc, snatching a 34-26 from the Pirates. 
• Lewis took control in the final three minutes to pull within 37-34 at halftime with seven points on the run. 
• The Vikings had a raucous crowd on their side, but Enakpene and Mills refused to let the Vikings ever pull away from more than two possessions. 
• Enakpene scored his 13th point of the second half, helping the Pirates take the lead and eventually building a two possession edge at 70-66. 
• Berry retaliated with the bucket and the bandage to pull within one. 
• With only 30 seconds to play, Enakpene passed to Hatcher as the shot clock ran down. The senior pumped faked his defender and drilled a three from NBA range, clinching another clutch Pirate win. 

GAME NOTES 

• The Pirates defensive intensity continues to be the story of improvement. Through the first eight SAA games, Southwestern allowed 82 PPG, compared to the past four games only 70.5 PPG allowed. 
• Southwestern shot an efficient 54% from the field with only five turnovers on the night. Both marked season bests by a wide margin as the Pirates average 12 turnovers per game this season. 
• The Vikings had no answer for Mills and Lewis in the paint. Mills totaled a season-high 14 points, adding seven boards. Lewis went 9 for 10 from the field with 20 points, making his case for All-SAA at 17.7 PPG in conference. 
• Enakpene was lethal in the mid-range down the stretch with 18 points. 

UP NEXT 
Southwestern travels to Oglethorpe on Sunday for a pivotal SAA battle at 1 PM CT.