Need to Know
Score: Piedmont 76, N.C. Wesleyan 82
Records: Lions 9-7, 6-3 USA South, Battling Bishops 8-7, 6-3 USA South
Location: Demorest, Georgia

DEMOREST, Ga. - The Piedmont College men's basketball team lost 82-76 to North Carolina Wesleyan after going cold from the floor in the final five minutes of the contest. The Lions led by as many as seven in the game, but it was the Battling Bishops who closed it out down the stretch including shooting 6-of-7 from the charity stripe in the final minutes. 

Piedmont used a 12-0 run to take a 12-5 lead in the early going, but that was the largest lead they would hold in the contest. It was always too close for comfort as neither team led by more than seven till the final seconds.

Momentum seemed to be on the Lions' side as ELIJAH ALSTON blocked a shot with 6:14 to play in the first half and the Lions built a seven point lead again at 35-28. The Battling Bishops would battle back though to make it just a single point advantage for the Lions at the break up 38-37. 

In the second half, it was no more than a three point lead for either team until JUSTIN VALLEJO knocked down a 3-pointer to make it 52-46 Lions. Piedmont made 11 3-pointers in the contest including six in the second half. 

Piedmont maintained the lead in the second half until 8:11 when the Bishops banked a 3-pointer to lead 65-62. The Lions regained the lead on a LANDRY ASSINESI 3-pointer with 5:13 to play but that was the last shot PC would make from the floor until the last-second layup by MARQUISE LANIER. 

Turning Point
--Piedmont made just one shot from the floor in the final five minutes of the game which was as time expired while the Battling Bishops went on a 13-5 run. 

Standout Performances
--ELIJAH ALSTON recorded his third straight double-double while JUSTIN VALLEJO notched his second straight double-double. 

Inside the Box Score
--Four of Piedmont's five starters scored in double figures. 

News & Notes
--That loss marked the first loss in over a month for the Lions as it snapped a six game win streak for PC. 

Up Next
--The Lions head to LaGrange to take on the Panthers on Wednesday, January 24 at 7:30 p.m. 

How to Follow
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