Rocky Mount, N.C. – In the USA South conference opener for the 2014-2015 season, the Piedmont College men’s basketball team could not keep pace with the Battling Bishops as N.C. Wesleyan handed the Lions their first conference loss 73-65. It was the Lions’ first outing since Christmas break and put an end to Piedmont’s tough road stretch where the Lions were unable to get a victory.
The Lions were in a tight battle throughout the contest as these teams played within four points through most of the first half. Piedmont strung together seven in a row to take a seven point lead with 1:20 remaining before the break, but the Battling Bishops put on a rally of their own scoring 9 in just over a minute to lead 32-30 at the half.
In the second half, PC tied it up on a layup by Trae Gaines with 12:33 left in the game and kept pace with the Battling Bishops until back-to-back 3-pointers by N.C. Wesleyan put an end to the Lions’ rally. The Battling Bishops saw over half their point total come from the bench with 39 points from non-starters including the leading scorer in the game, Jalen Cannady, who accounted for 19 points.
Statistically, these two teams were even in both field goal percentage and at the line, but the downfall for the Lions was their inability to shoot the three. N.C. Wesleyan ended the game shooting 35% from behind the arc knocking down six 3-pointers while the Lions struggled to connect from downtown making only 1-of-12 3-pointers.
Piedmont also turned the ball over 21 times leading to 26 points for the Battling Bishops who only committed 13 turnovers which the Lions converted into 13 points.
The leading Lion in the game was freshman Justin Vallejo who nearly managed a double-double with 15 points and 9 rebounds, tops on the team in both categories and ended the game as the leading rebounder. PC saw four players make it into double figures including Chris Meeks who contributed 11 points off the bench.
With the loss the Lions record drops to 4-6 this season and 0-1 in the USA South. Piedmont will return to action inside Cave Arena on Tuesday night as they play host to Sewanee with tipoff at 7 p.m.
The Lions post a 2-1 record in the friendly confines this season including the historic upset of then #6 ranked Emory University on December 2. Tuesday’s broadcast will be available through WCON radio 1450 AM, 107.7 FM as well as the Mane Event Broadcasting Network.
