Bristol, CT – For the second time since the inception of the Mane Event Broadcasting Network in 2013, Piedmont College has gained attention from the Worldwide Leader in Sports.
Footage of Saturday’s buzzer beater by TRAE GAINES surfaced on the ESPN video pages marking the second time Piedmont’s newly implemented video network has made it on ESPN after a triple play caught on camera during a baseball game against Maryville back in April of 2014 made SportsCenter’s Top Ten.
The call came from Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Play-by-Play man John Dzik who announced Gaines’ now famous buzzer beater that sent Piedmont to a 63-61 win over Maryville College on Saturday afternoon in Cave Arena in front of a stunned and raucous crowd.
With ESPN giving credit on the video posted online at ESPN.com to John Dzik and the Mane Event Broadcasting Network, Dzik relived the call on perhaps the most memorable finish to a men’s basketball game at Cave Arena: “Great game with a fantastic ending, considering the back story of this week for our team, it makes it even more amazing!”
PC’s week included a loss to Covenant College on a emotional Wednesday night just days before the Scots of Maryville would come to town. However, with a win on Saturday over Maryville, the Lions not only put themselves back on the winning path, but may have climbed yet another step closer to their first USA South Championship Tournament appearance since joining the league three years ago.
As the final 42 seconds featured five lead changes, Trae recalled the final one soon after the game went final saying, “The initial play before the timeout (called by Maryville) had it going to one of the three guys closer to the half court line. Then during the timeout, Coach (Greg Neeley) told me I would set a screen for Brian (Edwards) and roll to the ball.”
Gaines continued: “I didn’t think I would be so open when I turned around after I caught the ball, but thankfully I had enough space to release it and take the chance at the shot.”
Gaines took the pass from fellow sophomore CHASE ENGLAND near midcourt, took one dribble, and rose up right in front of the sign designating the Cave Crazies student section in the Johnny Mize Athletic Center to drain the game-winning three at the buzzer. Gaines’ game-winning shot comes amongst a season of heroics for the young Lion from Dewy Rose, Georgia who is quickly becoming the 6th Man of the Year for sure after he had 21 points off the bench to help Piedmont upset then-6th ranked Emory earlier this season already.
“When I made the shot, it was a dream come true,” said Gaines. “One of those shots you dream about in the backyard as a youngster! Making this helped me redeem myself from that Averett three I missed!”
As Saturday’s hero, Gaines’ last comment came from a missed opportunity with six seconds remaining in a 3-point game against Averett just six days ago as Gaines had the ball in hand with a chance to tie the ball game. However, Piedmont Head Coach Greg Neeley thought Gaines’ big moment against Maryville would for sure right now be the way the youngster is thought of amongst the Green and Gold faithful.
“Such a clutch shot by Trae to help secure a big win for our group,” said Neeley of the epic moment. “Trae represents our program the right way and it’s great to see him rewarded.”
The basket was only the 2nd made field goal for Gaines so far on the afternoon, but surely counted more than any other as the sophomore hit the biggest shot of his young Lions career right in front of the student section to seal Piedmont’s 9th win of 2014-15. The victory is the first over Maryville, who finished last season as the USA South Regular Season Champions, since an 82-77 win over the Scots in Tennessee back in February of 2011.
The video was released less than an hour after the shot heard ’round Demorest handed Piedmont the win with footage first coming out on the Piedmont Athletics YouTube Channel courtesy of Assistant Director of Athletic Communications Danielle Jenkins and student assistant Billy Mangum. The clip first aired live on the Mane Event Broadcasting Network, now in its second year of operation and powered by Sidearm Sports, Piedmont’s internet solutions partner since 2007.
Credit for the videography went to student worker Kayla Jones along with producers Marissa Akin, Mckynsey Douglas, and Carly Haraka while WCON News Director Michael Harvey and Coach John Dzik were on the call for the broadcast which aired live on the Mane Event Broadcasting Network and WCON Radio. WCON has been a partner for Piedmont basketball broadcasts since the 2010-11 season.
Piedmont’s 2nd pick up by ESPN comes as a result of an effort over the last two academic years to utilize new media avenues of reaching the Green & Gold nation as the play was promoted on Twitter and Facebook through the @PiedmontLions Twitter handle and the Piedmont College Official Athletic Facebook page. Since June of 2013 when plans for the new Mane Event Broadcasting Network were unveiled, @PiedmontLions has seen its number of followers more than double from about 300 on May 1st, 2013 to now more than 750 and growing.
