Box Score

DAYTONA BEACH, FL -- Senior guard Justin Gallo scored 25 points while sophomore guard Joe Mason had nine assists with seven rebounds to lead Union to an 83-62 men's basketball win over Berry College at the Land of Magic Classic Thursday. The Dutchmen, winners of five straight, stand 7-1 while the Vikings are now 6-5.

Matt Covucci scored 15 points and Mason added 13 for the Dutchmen, while Gallo made 11 of his 18 shots and added six rebounds. This was Gallo's fourth 20 point game and he averaged 25.5 points in the two games at the tournament in Florida.

Tim Miles led the Vikings with 21 points and eight rebounds, and David Holloman scored 12 points with six boards. Stefan Woods added 10 points.

The Dutchmen shot 56% for the day, and held the Vikings to 41% shooting. Union made 48% from the three point arc and forced 24 turnover to offset the Berry rebounding advantage of 36 to 27. Union also had 24 assists and 17 steals.

Union had a seven point advantage at halftime, 41-34, then came out hot in the second half to open up the contest. The Dutchmen went on an 11-3 run in the first 3:11 of the second half featuring three pointers by Gallo, Mason and Drew Goldstein, for a 52-34 lead. The Dutchmen took an 18 point lead with 9:32 left, at 68-50, and closed out the game with a 21 point victory.

Union returns home to host the 2011 Sig Makofski Inviational Tournament Monday and Tuesday, January 3 and 4 at the Viniar Athletic Center. Monday's games feature UMass-Dartmouth vs. Trinity (CT) at 6 p.m. with the Dutchmen playing Ramapo at 8 p.m. The consolation (6 p.m.) and championship (8 p.m.) will be on Tuesday.