Need to Know
Score: Piedmont 71, Covenant 76
Records: Lions 5-5, Scots 6-6
Location: Lookout Mountain, GA - Covenant College

Lookout Mountain, GA. - In the opener for 2016, the Lions came up short in a close contest against USA South foe Covenant College falling 76-71 to the Scots. The Lions move to 5-5 overall and are still winless in conference play sitting at 0-2 though both losses came by a combined eight points.

Neither team led by more than six with the largest lead for the Scots coming in the final minutes of the game. It was a low scoring affair in the first half as the teams went in to the break tied at 29 but scored a combined 89 points in the second half.

Out of the break, these two teams matched one another shot for shot as they were again tied at 35 with 16:47 to play, but a Piedmont 4-0 run thanks to a JUSTIN VALLEJO 3-pointer and a made free throw by TRAE GAINES gave Piedmont its largest lead of the game. It remained no more than a four point game until inside of two minutes to play. 

Piedmont shot just 13% from 3-point range going 2-of-15 while Covenant hit six 3-pointers going 38% from beyond the arc. The Scots saw 40 points off the bench while Piedmont had just 18 with 53 points from the starters. 

Turning Point
--Piedmont trailed by just one with 2:27 to go but Covenant reeled off a 5-0 run to seal the victory for the Scots. 

Standout Performances
--CHASE ENGLAND led the team with 12 points and nine rebounds, one board shy of his second double-double of the season
--England is leading the team in scoring averaging 13.9 points per game as one of the most consistent players on the team

Inside the Box Score
--Piedmont had four players score 12 points as England, TRAE GAINES, KELLY ASSINESI and CHRIS MEEKS all hit a dozen. 

News & Notes
--Piedmont and Covenant are known for close contests as the last four games had been decided by 8 or fewer points. The Lions dropped both contests last season while winning both matchups in 2013-14. 

Up Next
Piedmont returns home for a pair of double-headers with the women as they will both be in action inside Cave Arena on Saturday against William Peace and Sunday against Huntingdon College. 

How to Follow
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