After opening the Great South Athletic Conference schedule with a victory last Saturday, the Piedmont College men's basketball team fell this afternoon at the hands of host Lagrange College by the score of 86-81 in LaGrange, GA. Despite leading for the majority of the game PC could not counter in the final two minutes of regulation and dropped the five-point decision.

The Lions opened the game on a 17-5 run in the first six minutes. LaGrange cut the lead to three at 30-27 but PC never trailed and entered the half with a 44-40 advantage. PC shot 17-29 (59%) from the floor in the first frame including 5-9 (56%) from behind the three-point line.

In the second frame the Panthers took their first lead of the game with eight minutes remaining in regulation at 69-68. From that point there were five lead changes and three ties, the final being with two minutes remaining and the score 79-79. Both teams traded baskets but LC hit five consecutive free-throws to finish with the hard-fought 86-81 victory.

Despite forcing 19 turnovers and 14 steals the Lions lost the rebounding margin 46-24 and were out shot 52%-49%. The Panthers went 23-32 from the charity stripe compared to only 10-17 for Piedmont.

Senior JAKE BALDWIN led four Lions in double figures with a game-high 28 points. SAMUEL COPPAGE posted 14 points while JAKE GREEN and MICHAEL RUBIO chipped in with 12 and 11 points apiece. Rubio and Baldwin combined for 10 steals while Green led all players with five assists.

The loss drops Piedmont to 10-8 overall and an even 1-1 in the Great South Athletic Conference. The men will return to the hardwood again on Thursday, January 31st as they host local rival Toccoa Falls College at 7:00.