Presque Isle, MAINE --  Berkeley College defeated Maine-Presque Isle 80-55 Saturday afternoon in Presque Isle.

The final score was certainly not a fair summation of a hard-fought game between two top-ranked USCAA squads however.  For 32 minutes, the matchup of #6 Berkeley College (NY) and #12 Presque Isle was all a basketball fan could expect.

The upstart Owls came out prepared and on fire, with junior Chase Vicaire hitting 3 jumpers quickly to send Presque Isle out to a 10-2 lead in the first five minutes of action.  Berkeley would answer the Owls strong start with an 8-0 run of their own to knot the score 10-10 with 13:24 on the clock. 

The Owls used quality teamwork and baskets by five different players to take a 23-11 lead until Messiah Merritt pumped in a long range bomb with 8:16 on the clock to stop the Knights skid and start another Berkeley run.  This Berkeley streak would include an 18-6 run that tied the game at 29-29 with 2:12 left in the first half.  The Knights continued to score while the Owls struggled with the defensive pressure and Berkeley would go into the locker room up 37-31 at the half.

Vicaire scored the first five points of the second stanza to cut the Berkeley advantage to 37-36.  Berkeley scored six of the next 7 points to go up 43-38.  The Knights clearly had momentum, never giving up the lead in the second half, but the pesky Owls simply would not go away.

Presque Isle freshman Kevin Collins knocked down a 15 footer to cut the Knight lead to 49-45 at 9:24 and the Owls were only down four until the Knights leading scorer Keenan Langston hit a jumper with just under 8 minutes left that started another Berkeley 13 point run.

Despite the runs from the Berkeley offensive juggernaut that ranks as one the USCAA's most potent offensive attacks, the Owls managed to cling tight and were only down 11, 66-55 with 2:38 on the clock.

The last 157 seconds of action were nothing but an exhibition of exactly how young and inexperienced the Owls are.  The Presque Isle fans have witnessed some exceptional, team oriented basketball this season.  The play has been impressive, sometimes allowing the spectator to forget that the Owls are so young, with no seniors, only two upperclassmen and such key roles played by freshmen.

Vicaire led the Owls (8-6) with 19 points and sophomore Brandon McGill tallied a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.  Kenton Chan-Man continued his outstanding play for the Knights (8-4) with 26 points and teammate Stephon Jennings had 18 points and added 8 rebounds.

The Owls will next travel to Lewiston Maine on Tuesday and play the powerful Bates Bobcats.  Bates is 10-2, and undefeated in New England.