Box Score Listen to Coach Neeley talk postgame on the Mane Event Broadcasting Network

Demorest, GA - The Piedmont College men's basketball team picked up a 78-74 victory in their final home game of the season defeating visiting Covenant College for the second time in the last two weeks.  The Lions got big shots from their entire roster and shot close to 60% from downtown to pick the win in what was also their final USA South contest of the season as Piedmont will now ready for its season finale against Toccoa Falls College this coming weekend on the road.

After the Scots opened the evening on a 5-0 run that was snapped by a pair of Chase England free throws, Piedmont trailed by no more than five points in the first five minutes keeping Covenant within their sights.  With just over 14 minutes to play in the opening period, Brian Edwards tied the game at 11-11 with his jumper as he went three of five on the night with seven points. 

The Lions' first lead of the game came less than a minute later when Chris Meeks drilled a three-pointer from the top of the arc to put PC in front 14-13.  After Meeks added to the lead with a pair of free throws, the spotlight the next time up the court belonged to Safari Smith who drained his own effort from distance to extend the lead to 19-14 on an 8-0 run by PC.

With seven minutes left in the opening period and Piedmont leading 26-22, the Lions were led by Smith's six points followed closely behind by Meeks with five to that point.  Covenant would not go down without a fight however, as they retook the lead with five straight points though the balance of the game continued to sway back and forth between the two squads.

With just over two minutes to go in the first, another three from England tied the game at 33 all, but it was Covenant who would get a layup with time expiring in the opening period to steal a 37-36 lead before halftime. 

After the intermission, a quick three-pointer from freshman Peyton Luken gave the lead right back to Piedmont just 21 seconds into the second half.  Luken was a perfect three of three from distance as he showed the same poise he has all season coming up with key buckets at timely spots for first-year Head Coach Greg Neeley.

Leading 46-44, Daniel McCravy came off the bench to give his team a lift with an acrobatic spin and score that set the Cave Crazies just that, crazy, as the Lions moved ahead by four with under 14 minutes remaining.  The two traded shots over the next few minutes finding themselves tied for the 4th time on the night when a jumper from Covenant's Chris Boyd nodded things up at 57-57.

However, it was "Cool Hand Luken" who responded again as Peyton Luken set his feet coming out of a Piedmont timeout and drilled another three as he was heating up NBA-Jams style with Piedmont being pushed to the brink in their home finale.  Luken scored eight of his 13 in the final seven minutes of the game coming up clutch once more for his teammates in a big game.

With the clock hitting exactly a minute, Covenant had the ball in the hands of their second-leading scorer on the night, Chris Boyd, and trailed by just three points.  Boyd drove the lane trying to bring the Scots to within one, but it was Piedmont's Chase England who stepped up this time on the defensive end drawing the charge that turned the ball over and put the pressure back on the Scots to play the foul and hope game after PC's Brian Edwards sank a jumper the next time down to put Piedmont up 74-69. 

Piedmont made four of its final six free throws from that point on including a pair by veteran guard Safari Smith that made the final 78-74 on a night when the Lions wrapped up league action. England led all scorers with his 16 points as one of three Lions in double digits along with Smith who had 13 and Luken who tallied 13 as well.  Meeks led the way with his seven rebounds while Trae Gaines tallied three assists to lead that column.

With the four-point win at home, Piedmont sweeps the season series with the Scots of Covenant after winning 78-70 in Lookout Mountain last Monday night.  PC moves to 9-15 on the season overall and finishes 4-10 in the USA South season, their first in the conference after last year's debut was delayed due to a shortened season.

Piedmont now will look to reach double digit wins on the year with a victory in their season finale this Saturday night when they visit Toccoa Falls College for a rematch of an 83-74 win by the Lions earlier this season when they played host to the Eagles in the 2013 opener at the Cave.  Saturday night's tip off is set for 7:00 pm.