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Demorest, GA -- The Piedmont College men's basketball team wasted no time getting fans on the edge of their seats with a thrilling 91-90 overtime victory over visiting Toccoa Falls College earlier this evening in the Cave.  Though the Eagles held a slight advantage at half and a five-point lead with just under three minutes to play in the second, Piedmont showed some early season grit staving off the visitors in overtime for the one-point winner.

In a back-and-forth game that featured ten ties and 24 lead changes over three periods of play, Piedmont would grab the early advantage holding on to a four-point lead with a little over two minutes remaining in the first.  However, with their lead cut to one, PC saw Toccoa jump ahead on a last-second layup just before halftime putting the Eagles in front 39-38. 

After the break, the tight play continued throughout while Piedmont built its largest lead of the game at seven points midway through the second half.  As time ticked on, the Lions' lead would gradually diminish down to just two with twenty seconds remaining until the Eagles tied the ball game with a last second jumper sending the game into OT. 

In the overtime period, these two squads would find themselves tied once more with less than a minute to play in bonus basketball.  It was sophomore Michael Ross making his debut for the Lions that stepped up to give the Lions a one-point win with a bucket from the charity stripe with under ten seconds remaining as the Lions prevailed 91-90.

Ross went for 30 total points in his first official game donning the green and gold including five three pointers.  Classmate Josh Chapman joined in the effort scoring 19 points going 7-8 at the free throw line and shooting 67% from the field. 

Freshman Will Skaggs also had a solid debut in front of the home crowd collecting his first double-double of ten assists and 13 total points.  Junior Tracey Gardner lead the way on the boards for PC posting 13 total rebounds including ten on the defensive end.

The win puts Piedmont at 1-0 to start the season.  The Lions will now turn their attention to another in-state rival as Oglethorpe University pays PC a visit one week from tonight on Tuesday, November 23.  Tip off for the showdown with the Stormy Petrels is set for 7:00 in the Cave.