NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 74, LaGrange 72
Records: Piedmont, 5-4, 2-1 USA South; LaGrange 1-2, 1-2 USA South
 
DEMOREST, Ga. – Piedmont's USA South home opener was a thriller Friday evening as the Lions outlasted LaGrange 74-72. The Lions rallied from trailing by eight points in the final nine minutes and managed to keep the Panthers from scoring on their final possession after a timeout with 7.5 on the clock. 

The Lions held the lead inside the final minute, but neither team led by more than three over the final four minutes of the contest. 

JUSTIN QUICK opened the game with a 3-pointer but then the Panthers went on a 7-0 run. Quick regained a short-lived lead for Piedmont converting a pair of free throws with 14:13 on the clock. 

LaGrange went on another run 8-0 to lead 19-12 and maintained the lead until DALTON MEELER converted an and-one opportunity with 4:24 remaining in the first half to tie the game at 28. 

The Panthers led 36-35 at the break and opened the second half with a 3-pointer to pick up where they left off. A personal foul followed by a technical by LaGrange gave RYAN JOLLY four shots at the charity stripe where he went 4-for-4 to leave Piedmont trailing 44-42. 

It was a tight battle, but LaGrange kept the lead and stretched it to eight points, 60-52, with 8:44 to play. The Lions rallied with a three by Jolly and an and-one conversion by JAKE SMITH to cut it to 60-58. 

Piedmont used timely passes to cut through the lane and stay in contention eventually tying the game on a 3-pointer by ANDREW STIMPSON with under four to go. JORDAN FOOTE gave Piedmont the lead 68-66 with a layup with 2:40 remaining as he scored just four points on the night but made it count at the right time. 

Another and-one, this time by RYAN JOLLY inside the final minute of play, stretched the lead to three for the Lions and proved to be enough to keep the Panthers at bay. LaGrange made two free throws in the final minute but did not connect on a shot from the floor in the final 1:57 of the contest. 
 
Piedmont survived in the contest despite committing 27 turnovers to LaGrange's 13. The Panthers managed 20 points off turnovers to Piedmont's 11. 

TURNING POINT:
--The Panthers led by eight 60-52 with 8:44 to play, but Piedmont was able to rally back to tie the contest 66-all with just under four to play. 
 
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
--RYAN JOLLY continued his hot streak leading all scorers with 25 points and went 9-of-11 from the foul line. 
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
--In the third minute of the second half, LaGrange committed a personal foul and a technical foul was assessed to the bench giving RYAN JOLLY four chances at the free throw line (4-for-4) and ultimately, the two points needed to seal the win. 

UP NEXT:
--Piedmont will head to LaGrange for game two of the season series Saturday at 6 p.m.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW:
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