Box Score Demorest, GA -- Piedmont Men's Basketball took a commanding lead in the first thanks to a high-scoring group of freshmen starters, earning a 108-90 win over USA South opponent, Averett University. The Lions scored 54 points in each half of play to secure the victory.
By the time the clock showed sixteen minutes left in the first half, Piedmont had already earned a 12-4 lead over the Cougars.
Trae Gaines started the scoring with a quick jumper followed by a three from distance.
Jordyn Propst followed up by tipping in a missed jumper on the offensive. Propst wasn't done yet as he grabbed a block and rebound on the next Averett possession.
At the fifteen minute mark,
Chase England drove to the lane and hit a fadeaway jumper to put Piedmont up 14-4. The Lions kept fighting defensively and after another
Trae Gaines three-pointer at 12:08, Piedmont held a commanding 30-12 lead.
The Cougars steadily added a few points of their own here and there but Piedmont moved the ball took quick on offense with
Peyton Luken threading a few balls to Lions shooters to gather a pair of assists. Neeley's Lions took the trip to the locker room at halftime with a confident 54-37 lead over the visiting Cougars.
Averett came out scoring first in the second half but, Luken hit his third three-pointer on the night moments later; he would finish with 13 points after also scoring 4-4 from the foul line.
Chris Meeks hit a smart jumper at the 15:00 minute mark to give the Lions a reassuring 22-point lead. With under ten minutes remaining in the second half, Meeks leaped up in the paint to tip-in a rebound and gather a 25-point lead; he would finish the game with 9 rebounds and 8 points.
At the six and five minute marks,
Safari Smith continued his incredibly-agile ways grabbing rebounds and then threading through the defense to assist two lay-up fast breaks for Piedmont with the second assist taking the Lions score into triple digits.
Although the Lions gathered a 28-point lead at one point, Averett was not ready to give up and fought back to an 18-point deficit before the final buzzer put Piedmont over the Cougars, 108-90. With the win, the Lions are now 7-9 overall and 2-4 in the USA South. Their next action will be against conference opponent Covenant College at Lookout Mountain, Ga this Wednesday night.
