Box Score Marietta, OH - The Piedmont College men's basketball team fell 79-58 earlier tonight at Marietta College in the second of two games at the Ohio school who hosted the Shrine Tournament.  The Lions trailed from the opening tip as the home team, who won 20 games in 2012-13, starts off this season at 2-0 as the champions of their own tourney while Piedmont falls to an even 1-1 on the year.

Piedmont saw the difference in tonight's game come down low getting outscored 44-14 in the paint while Marietta also picked up 21 points off 18 Lion turnovers.  PC was able only to create four points off Marietta's eight giveaways but the home team was in control throughout opening up a lead as large as 24 in the contest to hand the Lions their first loss in the Greg Neeley era.

The Lions saw Marietta open up the game on a 8-0 run as the Pioneers started fast though Piedmont would keep it close over the first 13 minutes trailing by just two after a pair of Chase England free throws at the 7:31 mark of the first half.  However, Marietta would stretch that lead back up to double digits taking a 15 point lead after going on a 13-2 run over the next three and a half minutes to deflate the Lions' momentum.

Leading by 16 at the intermission, Marietta was more of the same in the second half as their lead never shrank lower than double digits in the final 20 minutes as the Pioneers shot 40% from the field compared to Piedmont's 30% mark.  The Lions doubled up the Pioneers from beyond the arc shooting better than 38% from three-point land, but Marietta used its presence in the paint to stay ahead throughout the second half taking their largest lead of the game at 23 on an Andy Stegman layup midway throughout the second half.

Junior Alton Honors II led his team in points with 13 hitting on five of his nine tries from the field including a pair of strikes from downtown.  The only other Lion in double figures was sophomore Jessie Jenkins who shot 33% to produce 10 point while also pulling down seven rebounds, tied for the team lead along with Chris Meeks and newcomer Chase England.

Freshman Brian Edwards had a solid evening in his second college game totaling nine points and five boards as he shot 40% from the field.  Youngster Austin Pearson was one of Piedmont's best shooters from beyond the three-point arc hitting on two of his three tries from downtown to total seven points.

Honors II made the All-Tournament team this weekend as did teammate Jessie Jenkins courtesy of their two-game performances in Ohio.  The Shrine Tournament saw Jenkins average a double-double in two games with 20 boards and 21 points in the pair of games while Honors II averaged a dozen points and hit better than 42% from the field up north.

The Lions move to 1-1 on the year after having won a season opener on the road for the first time in six tries during the school's NCAA era with their win over Earlham last night.  Piedmont now returns home to open up the friendly confines portion of their schedule with a Tuesday night contest against Toccoa Falls College this coming week.  Tip off in the November 19th contest against the local rival for the Lions is set for 8:00 pm. 

2013 Shrine All-Tournament Team
Chris Holmes - Earlham
Wesley Russell - Ohio Christian
JESSIE JENKINS - Piedmont
ALTON HONORS II - Piedmont
A.J. Davis - Marietta

Cliff Rose Most valuable Player
Tyler Hammond - Marietta