NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 72, Berea 84
Records: Piedmont, 12-12 (5-6 CCS); Berea 14-9 (6-4 CCS)

DEMOREST, Ga. - The Piedmont men's basketball team fell short Saturday afternoon in a CCS battle against Berea with the Mountaineers claiming the victory 84-72. Berea tied a season-high for 3-pointers made in a contest with 15 against the Lions. 

Piedmont jumped out to an 8-0 lead to start the game forcing an early Mountaineers' timeout. The Lions held as large as a 10 point lead in the first 10 minutes of play, but Berea clawed back before halftime. 

The Mountaineers made five straight 3-pointers to take a 22-21 lead with 6:35 to go till the break. Piedmont used a 10-0 run including a dunk by AARON PALMER to regain control, but Berea returned the favor with a 10-0 run to end the half, going into the break up on the Lions 35-34.

WILL RICHTER connected from deep to start the second half, and Piedmont's first four baskets from the field in the second half were 3-pointers. From that point on, Piedmont made just two 3-pointers while the Mountaineers totaled eight in the second half. 

Piedmont's last lead of the game was 52-51 with 10:21 remaining as the Mountaineers went on a 9-2 run to begin to take control of the contest. 

The Lions trailed by as many as 10 until the final minutes as free throws allowed the Mountaineers to extend the lead and win 84-72. 

The final regular season contest will be next Saturday, February 18th against Maryville. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. with senior day prior to the contest. 

TURNING POINT:
--Berea's 15 3-pointers in the contest were the deciding factor as the Mountaineers netted 18 more points than Piedmont from deep. 

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
--WILL RICHTER led Piedmont with 15 points as he was hot from deep making five of Piedmont's nine 3-pointers. 

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