Mt. Berry, GA – The Piedmont College men’s basketball team got a double-double from newcomer JUSTIN VALLEJO, but it was not enough to upend the Vikings of Berry College who claimed an 82-79 decision earlier today over the Lions. Visiting the Mount Berry-based campus, Piedmont had a chance to take the lead on a pair of free throws with just seconds remaining, but a miss and a lane violation on the second sank the squad’s hopes of a miracle rally after trailing by six with a minute to play.
Vallejo posted 19 points and a season-best 15 boards as he led the team in rebounding for the fourth time in six games so far this season. The big man was nine of 17 from the floor in 19 minutes while three other Lions totaled double figures as well in CHASE ENGLAND (17), TREY WINDERS (14), and PEYTON LUKEN (12).
The Lions led 13-6 after five minutes using a three from Luken to surge ahead of the hosting Vikings early in the first half. Piedmont led for a 12-minute span in the opening period and went to the locker room up by two shooting the lights out from distance hitting on six of 11 (54.5%) tries from distance before intermission.
In the second half, it was Vallejo who stole the show posting double-double numbers in the second half alone with 10 rebounds and 14 points as Piedmont led for the first 13 minutes of the second half. A TREY WINDERS three at the 12:38 mark put the Lions up nine, their largest advantage of the second half, as Piedmont was never able to put away the Vikings for good in the Saturday afternoon matchup.
Berry would not take the lead until only 3:15 remained as Owen Jacobs hit a pair of tries from the charity stripe to put the Vikings up 71-70. Jacobs was five of eight from the line and hit the final two free throws that iced the contest for the Vikings though it wasn’t smooth sailing for the home team in the final minute of play.
Trailing by just six with 59 seconds to play, Piedmont would send Berry to the line to stay in the game during the closing seconds, and the Vikings would be courteous to the visitors’ plan missing four of their next six free throws to let PC close to within four. A three-point play the old fashioned way by JESSIE JENKINS with four seconds left then closed the gap to just one point at 80-79.
Again, the Lions would send Berry to the line as Caleb Johnson would take a turn this time for the hosts but missed both tries to give PC a chance with Vallejo grabbing the board. A beautiful outlet pass by the Florida native put the Lions on the break and it was JESSIE JENKINS who drew the contact with just three seconds remaining putting himself on the line with his team still down just one.
A miss by the veteran on the first put Piedmont in a tie-only situation which looked for a moment like it would occur as Jenkins sank the second try. However, a lane violation canceled out the basket and kept the Lions trailing. From that point on, Berry’s Jacobs sank a pair of free throws to make it a three-point lead and a desperation heave by PC could not connect as Berry held on in dramatic fashion for an 82-79 win.
Berry shot nearly 50% from the floor as a team with Piedmont hitting on just over 42%, but the Lions did out-work the hosts on the glass with 46 rebounds compared to 31 for the Vikings. Piedmont’s assists leader was Jenkins with five while Vallejo led in scoring and rebounding.
Piedmont falls to now 3-3 having dropped two straight to Southern Athletic Association foes since the upset win over then-#6 Emory last week. The Lions are 1-3 when allowing more than 80 points in a contest in 2014-15.
Next up for the Lions will be a home contest on Tuesday night against Kentucky Christian University who comes to Georgia for a two-game swing playing Point University the night before. Piedmont’s December 16 contest against the Knights will tip off at 6:30 pm in Cave Arena. Coverage of the contest will be provided live on the Mane Event Broadcasting Network and WCON Radio starting with the Opening Roar Tip Off Show at 6:00 pm.
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