DEMOREST, Ga. – Despite a strong start inside Cave Arena Tuesday, the Piedmont University men’s basketball team was defeated 86-59 by Maryville. The Lions held a 10-point lead early but could not keep pace with the Scots.
In the opening minutes, the Lions were dominant, taking a 22-12 lead with five 3-pointers in the first 10:00 of play, but from there, Piedmont would make just one 3-pointer in the remaining 10 minutes of play.
The Scots used a 14-4 run to tie the game a 26 all with 5:41 to play in the first half. Maryville then capitalized with a steal and a fastbreak 3-pointer on what would have been an over-and-back call on the Lions, but no one gave pursuit.
Piedmont’s final 3-pointer of the half came from Zach Oechsle on the ensuing possession, but that was the last time the Lions tied the game in the first half.
At the half, the Scots held a 42-33 lead shooting 53% from the floor to Piedmont’s 36%. Piedmont did outshoot the Scots from 3-point range making six 3-pointers in the first half to Maryville’s five.
To open the second half, the Scots overpowered the Lions with a 25-4 run to pull ahead 67-37, marking a 55-15 run for Maryville after Piedmont led 22-12 in the first half. Maryville outscored Piedmont 44-26 in the second half.
Up next, the Lions step out of conference action for a contest at Warren Wilson on Thursday at 7 p.m.
TURNING POINT:
–The Scots used a 55-15 run to take control of the contest.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
—Ryan Jolly led Piedmont with 14 points and tied for a team-high six rebounds.
—Zach Oechsle scored a career-high 11 points in the game, going 5-of-7 from the field in 16 minutes off the bench.
NEWS AND NOTES:
–Piedmont is now on a six-game losing streak, all coming in conference play.
