Demorest, GA – Courtesy of a last-second tip-in by Justin Vallejo off a missed layup with 1.4 seconds left in the game, the Piedmont College men’s basketball team completed the second-half rally to win 54-52 against Sewanee. The freshman Vallejo played like a veteran as he led the team for the second game in a row with 15 points and 8 rebounds with 11 of those points during the second-half comeback.
It was the Vallejo show in this one as he had 4 points and 2 rebounds within the first 1:20 of play. His hot start early was just a sign of things to come in this thriller.
The Lions led by as many 5 in the first half, but the Tigers surged back into the game taking the lead 11-10 and knocking down another bucket to force Coach Neeley to call a timeout.
Out of that break, Trae Gaines, who was masterful against Emory off the bench with 24 points in 21 minutes, provided the Lions with a much needed spark, driving the lane to the basket for two on back-to-back possessions.
The Tigers took its largest lead of the first half at 7 points after the first 3-pointer of the game was knocked down with 1:54 to go, but Trey Winders joined the party finding the net with 1:36 till the half for the Lions first 3-pointer.
The Lions trailed 28-23 at the half, but Jessie Jenkins quickly cut that lead draining a 3-pointer out of the break. Jenkins was a big contributor to the Lions’ ability to keep pace with the Tigers as he found the net on all four of his free throw attempts in the first half. Jenkins entered the game with the 6th best free throw percentage in the USA South.
A Vallejo jumper cut the lead to a mere two points, but the Tigers caught fire again after the SAA Player of the Week, Jorden Williams, provided a spark with a 3-pointer. Williams stayed hot in the second half finishing with 16 points as he helped Sewanee increase its lead to as many as 11.
After a block by Chase England with 8:28 to go, the Lions drove up the court and Peyton Luken drained his first points of the new year with a 3-pointer as Piedmont started to chip away at the Tigers’ lead. England would then come through on the offensive end hitting a fadeaway jumper to cut the lead to 5 with just under 6:00 to play.
The rally continued as Vallejo hit nothing but net from behind the arc to cut the lead to two yet again with 4:01 on the clock. After a pair of free throws from the Tigers, Vallejo had his chance at the line and was one-of-two making it a three point game.
It was Vallejo again coming through in the clutch making the three point play the hard way getting the layup to fall with the foul and hitting his shot at the line tying the game at 50 all. These teams were tied again at 52 when England grabbed momentum straight out of the air on a steal to give Piedmont possession with under a minute on the clock.
The Lions held the ball for the final shot and it was Vallejo who found magic to send the Cave Crazies roaring inside Cave Arena. Jessie Jenkins ended the night as the Lions second leading scorer with 11 points and 6 rebounds and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the line. Piedmont shot 89% from the line while holding the Tigers to only 71%.
With the victory, the Lions swept both contests against Sewanee this season. The earlier victory came at Sewanee back on November 25 in a 79-62 decision for Piedmont. The Lions move to 3-1 on the home court this season with three games remaining during this home stand.
Piedmont will be back in action inside Cave Arena on Friday night for its home conference opener when William Peace travels to Demorest for a doubleheader with the Lady Lions. The Lions game will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the Lady Lions scheduled to follow.
As always, home action will be available for the game as it will be broadcast, both video and audio, on the Mane Event Broadcasting Network and WCON Radio, respectively.
