NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 86, Berea 80 2/OT
Records: Piedmont, 13-13 (5-7 CCS); Berea 15-11 (7-5 CCS)
BEREA, Ky. - The Piedmont University men's basketball team is moving on after a comeback for the ages in the CCS Quarterfinals Tuesday with an 86-80 win over Berea in double overtime. The Lions trailed by as many as 15 points with under 13 minutes to play in the second half but clawed back to an eventual victory.
In the first half, Piedmont jumped out to an 8-0 lead but the Mountaineers used their own 8-0 run to tie it up. It was close through most of the first half, but the Mountaineers pulled away in the final 90 seconds with back-to-back 3-pointers to lead 34-26 at the break.
In the second half, Piedmont was quickly down by 12 as another 3-pointer dropped for Berea, but
RYAN JOLLY answered with one of his own. The senior had just eight points in the first half en route to a career night.
Berea built as large as a 15-point lead at 50-35 with 12:56 in the second half, but the Lions were not out of it.
RYAN JOLLY and
DEVIN DEAN combined for a 21-3 run for the Lions as Piedmont claimed the lead 56-53 with 5:50 to play.
Piedmont led 60-55 with 3:15 to go but could not manage another bucket as the Mountaineers tied it up and forced overtime. In the first overtime period, both teams scored 10 points as Piedmont held the ball for the final shot in regulation and the first OT period.
In the second overtime, Piedmont came out with a fury scoring the first seven of the period in just 83 seconds. Berea got it to a three point game, 79-76, but the Lions continued to fight and led by as many as 10 in the second overtime period.
RYAN JOLLY and
DEVIN DEAN scored 32 of Piedmont's 34 points in the second half as
NOAH REARDON added a pair of free throws in the first minute of action.
The win marks Piedmont's first CCS Tournament victory in men's basketball and the Lions are set to face top-seeded Maryville Friday in Maryville, Tennessee.
TURNING POINT:
--The Lions used a 7-0 run in the first 1:30 of the second overtime period to take the lead and outscore the Mountaineers 16-10 in 2OT.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
--
RYAN JOLLY was electric with a career-high 37 points and 12 rebounds to take control of the contest.
--
DEVIN DEAN was also a key contributor with career-highs in both points and rebounds with 20 points and 14 boards.
--The two combined for 57 of Piedmont's 86 points and 26 of Piedmont's 48 rebounds.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE:
--This was the third meeting between these two this season but the lone win the Lions managed.
HOW TO FOLLOW:
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Twitter: @PiedmontLions,
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