NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 73, Maryville 82
Records: Piedmont, 3-4, 0-1 USA South; Maryville 1-0, 1-0 USA South
 
MARYVILLE, Tenn. – In the 2020-21 USA South men's basketball conference opener, the Piedmont Lions dropped an 82-73 game against the Scots of Maryville College. RYAN JOLLY continued his impressive start to his Piedmont career tallying 27 points while JORDAN FOOTE notched a double-double. 

The Scots took an early lead 11-2 out of the gate and built an 18 point lead with 6:15 remaining before the break. Piedmont began to cut into that deficit with 3-pointers making three quickly to trail 32-24.

The Lions went on a 9-1 run to cut it to just a two point deficit 34-32 but went into halftime trailing 39-35 after Maryville got a late three. Both teams scored a 3-pointer within the final seconds of the half as JUSTIN QUICK tallied one for the Lions to cut it to a one point game, but Maryville answered before the buzzer sounded with one of their own. 

Back-to-back 3-pointers by Maryville's Kevin Chong set the tone out of the break for the Scots building back a double digit advantage 45-35. The Lions clawed back to get it within three but the Scots continued to put together runs and built back a double digit lead. 

Piedmont trailed by 15, 75-60, with 2:58 to play, but continued to fight and got within six, but the difference was too much to overcome in the end. 
 
TURNING POINT:
--The Scots used a 9-2 run inside the final five minutes of play to keep the Lions at bay. 
 
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
--RYAN JOLLY continues to be on a tear for the Lions as he scored 25+ for the third time this season. 
--JORDAN FOOTE secured a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds with his final board inside the last 0:20 of the game. 
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
--The Lions had 11 steals in the game to the Scots' nine and forced Maryville into 20 total turnovers.
 
UP NEXT:
--Piedmont faces the Scots in game two of the weekend on Saturday at noon in Tennessee.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW:
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