Need to Know
Score: Piedmont 91, Toccoa Falls 88
Records: Lions 1-3 , Screaming Eagles 4-3
Location: Demorest, Georgia - Cave Arena

Demorest, GA - The Piedmont College men's basketball team took the floor in Cave Arena for their home opener earlier Thursday night against Toccoa Falls College taking the contest 91-88.

TRAE GAINES notched the first points for the Lions with a three point play scoring as he was fouled less than a minute into the game. JUSTIN VALLEJO had a night to remember which started early as he put in a layup shortly after Gaines, Vallejo would go on to shoot 10-17 from the field.

The Lions would go on a ten point run halting the little offense that the Screaming Eagles had produced during the first eight minutes as PC led 18-4.

With under five minutes until halftime, the Screaming Eagles had come back within ten points when Cameron Williams landed a layup. As the clock ticked away, Toccoa Falls had come back and would go into the locker room with energy off a three-pointer just before the buzzer ending the half 44-38 in favor of the Lions.

With only thirteen seconds passed in the second half Williams netted a long three for the Screaming Eagles to close the gap further.

Both teams continued to battle with the Lions maintaining the lead until five minutes in the game when the Screaming Eagles tied it up at 75. Toccoa had the opportunity to take the lead after a missed three-pointer from PEYTON LUKEN but senior KELLY ASSINESI nabbed his third steal of the night on the ensuing possession drawing the foul to get to the line for two free points. This sparked a seven point run for the Lions and the Screaming Eagles were unable to close the gap again giving the Lions a 91-88 victory.

Turning Point
-- With the Screaming Eagles mounting a comeback knotting it at 75 a big steal from KELLY ASSINESI turned into two free throw that set the Lions on a 7-0 run highlighted by a TRAE GAINES three pointer waking up the PC crowd.

Standout Performances
-- JUSTIN VALLEJO was hot out the gate shooting 9-of-14 for 19 points in the first half alone eventually turning into a team high 21.
-- KELLY ASSINESI notched 14 points as well as a team high five assists and 8 rebounds.
-- CHASE ENGLAND was lethal from three point range shooting 4-5 for the contest.

Inside the Box Score
-- The 12 steals by the Lions aided in the 15 points off turnovers that accumulated over the game.
-- The Screaming Eagles were shooting beyond the arc at 70% at the first media timeout of the second half.

News & Notes
-- JUSTIN VALLEJO's standout performance marks his first double-double of the season with his previous double-double performance came on January 9th against William Peace.

Up Next
The Lions will play host to the visiting Eagles of Emory University in Cave Arena on December 3rd at 4:30 p.m. The last meeting for these two teams in Cave Arena the Lions upset then sixth ranked Eagles in front of the Cave Crazies 87-85.

How to Follow
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