Box Score ROME, Georgia -- The Piedmont College men's basketball team fell just short Monday with a tough 75-74 overtime loss to host Berry College in BC's Cage Center. The Vikings needed a three-point basket at the end of regulation and a jumper with less than a single second left in overtime to hold off the Lions and earn their second victory of the season.
Piedmont jumped out of the gate to a 14-7 lead but Berry would grab the lead (16-15) at the 9:30 mark of the first half on a three-point basket by Mac Whalen capping an 9-1 run. The Vikings would carry a 35-28 lead into the break.
Piedmont's
TYLER ARNOLD would score six quick points capped by a free throw with 1:21 remaining in regulation to give the Lions their first lead of the second half at 64-62. After another Arnold free throw with 0:17 remaining extended the Lions lead to three (66-63), Berry's Lee McCloud would force the extra period as he drained a three with 6.3 seconds left in regulation.
An Arnold three and a basket by
AUSTIN THOMPSON would give the Lions a 71-66 lead less than one minute into overtime but Berry would respond with a 7-2 run to tie the game at 73 with 1:30 remaining. After a free throw by
JESSIE JENKINS with a minute left gave the Lions a one-point lead, Berry would secure the victory when Jonathan Abrams connected for the Vikings with less than a second remaining.
ALTON HONORS II and Jenkins combined for 47 points to lead the Lions offensively. Honors II totaled 26 points on 8-19 from the floor. He connected on 10-14 free throws. Jenkins collected 21 points on an efficient 8-14 from the floor. The duo also combined for 22 rebounds as they each pulled down 11.
SAFARI SMITH (13) and Arnold (10) also reached double-figures for the Lions. Smith also dished out a team-high five assists.
Abrams would lead three Vikings in double-figures with a team-high 19 points.
Piedmont (0-7) will have a 16-day break between game and will resume action on January 2 when the Lions host Emory University in Cave Arena at 7:00 PM.
