DEMOREST, Ga. – Despite some late heroics, Piedmont men’s basketball could not overcome the deficit in a 76-74 loss to Huntingdon. The Lions outscored Huntingdon 44-35 in the second half but came up just short.
The Lions trailed by nine with 8:07 to play but used an 8-0 run to cut it to 61-60 with 5:26 remaining. Piedmont trailed by six again with 2:51 to go, but Dylan Patrick answered with a 3-pointer.
A Fisher Darden layup made it a one-point game again, 69-68, but a jumper for the Hawks and points following a turnover by the Lions put it back to a five-point game, 73-68, with 56 seconds remaining.
Piedmont made three free throws to pull within two, but the Hawks also converted their free throws. Down by four with 11 seconds to play, Bailey Wiseman banked a 3-pointer to keep hope alive, making it 75-74.
Huntingdon’s BJ Brown made 1-of-2 free throws at the end, and no one could retain possession for a final shot at the buzzer.
Piedmont jumped out to a 22-15 lead in the game, but an 18-0 run by the Hawks put the Lions down 11 with 5:35 to play in the first half. That was the same deficit at the break, 41-30, and despite best efforts in the second half, the Hawks held on for the victory.
Huntingdon secured 20 offensive rebounds to Piedmont’s six and totaled 56 rebounds in the contest.
Next, the Lions will host LaGrange on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
TURNING POINT:
– An 18-0 run in the first half proved to be too much as the Hawks held on despite Piedmont’s late heroics.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
– Four of Piedmont’s starters were in double figures, led by Javi Marlowe and Fisher Darden scoring 17 each.
NEWS AND NOTES:
– This moves Piedmont’s conference record to 1-1.
