The Berkeley College men's basketball team dropped its season-opening game on Saturday afternoon, falling to the Seawolves of Southern Maine Community College by a score of 81-79 in a contest played in South Portland, Maine. The defeat drops the Knights to 0-1, while the Seawolves stayed unblemished on the 2014-2015 campaign, improving to a mark of 4-0.
Southern Maine Community College controlled the first nine minutes of the opening session, with the Seawolves holding leads of 8-0, 10-2, and 19-8. Despite facing an early 11-point hole, the Knights stormed back, putting together a 26-6 run over a 7:32 span to push ahead by a score of 34-25. A mini 7-1 run by Southern Maine Community College over the ensuing 1:16 cut the Knights' lead to three points at 35-32. As time expired on the opening session, Berkeley held a 39-35 advantage.
In the second session - the Knights took their biggest lead of the game - a nine point edge (46-37) - following back-to-back converted layups by newcomer Stephon Jennings. The Seawolves answered that with a 12-2 to run - capped off by a three-point basket by Josh Tuplin - to take a 49-48 lead with 14:44 remaining in regulation.
The next 11:32 minute span was tightly contested, with neither team taking more than a five point lead (SMCC held a 65-60 edge with 7:47 to play). The Knights took a 75-74 lead with 3:12 remaining in the game thanks to a trifecta by Tasheen Carrow. On the next Seawolve possession, Tuplin would misfire on a triple, and the rebound was grabbed by Atencio Martin who was fouled by the Knights' Jennings. Jennings would step to the charity stripe and drain two free throws to push Southern Maine Community College back up by a point - 76-75.
On the ensuing two Knights possessions - Jennings and Carrow would each split a pair of free throws, and Berkeley College found itself ahead again - 77-76 - with 1:53 to play. Nine seconds later, Martin was fouled by the Knights' Massiah Merritt. Martin would sink two free throws to put SMCC in front 78-77. Berkeley would get the ball down the court and following a missed three-point attempt by Carrow, the ball was rebounded by Merritt who fed Keenan Langston, and the standout banked-in a layup to give Berkeley a 79-78 edge. That would be the final point the Knights would score, though, as a made basket by Martin would give the Seawolves an 80-79 edge, a lead SMCC would not relinquish.
In the final seconds, Tuplin would convert on one of his two free throws to give his team a two point edge, and Berkeley's Merritt would misfire on a potential game-winning three, as Southern Maine Community College held on for a two-point win.
Despite the loss for the Knights, Berkeley College was paced by Langston who scored a game-high 19 points while hitting on seven of his 16 attempts from the floor (and five of his six attempts from the charity stripe) while also snatching five rebounds, dishing three assists, and tallying two steals. Merritt dropped in 18 points and grabbed six rebounds, and Carrow and Jennings contributed with 11 points apiece.
In the victory for Southern Maine Community College, the Seawolves got a phenomenal performance out of Josh Tuplin who scored a game-high 29 points while draining six three-point baskets. He also collected three rebounds. Grayson Waterman also added 12 points on five-of-seven shooting.
Both teams shot very well from the floor, with the Seawolves shooting 52.1 percent on the afternoon (25-48), and the Knights hitting on 46.9 percent of their attempts (30-64). Berkeley dished 16 assists to SMCC's 15, and the Seawolves turned the ball over 21 times compared to 17 for the Knights. Berkeley held a 38-31 edge in the rebounding department, and the Knights scored 42 points in the paint compared to 20 for SMCC.
Berkeley College will return to action tomorrow afternoon, as the Knights will look to even their record at 1-1 when they face the University of Maine Machias. Start-time for that game is scheduled for 2:00pm.
