Need to Know
Score: Piedmont 81, Averett 71
Records: Lions 11-8, 5-3 USA South, Cougars 7-12, 5-3 USA South
Location: Danville, Virginia - Averett University

Danville, VA - A slow start was too much to overcome for the Piedmont College men's basketball team as Averett used an early run to secure a large lead over the Lions and held on for an 81-71 victory over Piedmont. The Lions fell behind by as many as 25 in the contest before making an impressive second half comeback, cutting the lead to as few as seven with just under a minute to play. 

Piedmont struggled to score early, down by nine, five minutes into the contest, but a 17-3 run by the Cougars nearly put the game out of reach as Averett led 28-7 with just under nine minutes to play till the break. The Lions started cutting into the advantage with CHASE ENGLAND scoring five in a row to make it 28-12, but the Cougars stretched it out to a 24-point lead at the break, 45-21. 

Averett made it a 25-point lead, the largest of the game, with 18:14 remaining as it was 49-24 after a jumper by James Contreras Jr. The Lions then went on a 12-2 run to begin their impressive second half comeback cutting the lead to 15 as the Cougars led 51-36. 

The Cougars were up by 17 with just over five minutes to play in the game, but the Lions put it in overdrive to chip away at the deficit and clawed back with the help of four 3-pointers to make it a seven point game with 51 seconds to play. However, it was too late to complete the comeback as time ran out with the Lions dropping the contest 81-71. 

Turning Point
--A 17-3 run over a six minute stretch in the first half put the Cougars up by 21 leading 28-7 with 8:48 to play in the first half and the Lions were unable to overcome the  difference. 

Standout Performances
--JUSTIN VALLEJO continues to lead the Lions as he totaled 25 points in the contest to lead all scorers. 

Inside the Box Score
--The Lions outscored the Cougars 50-36 in the second half but ran out of time to complete the comeback. 

News & Notes
--The Cougars led by as many as 25 points in the contest coming two minutes into the second half of play up 49-24. 

Up Next
--The Lions continue their road stretch a week from Saturday taking on Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama on February 4. 

How to Follow
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