NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 82, Centre 76
Records: Piedmont, 6-4; Centre 7-4

LEXINGTON, Va. - For the second-straight game, Bailey Wiseman scored 21 points to lead the Lions as Piedmont defeated Centre 82-76 at the Washington & Lee Holiday Tournament. With the win, the Lions face W&L on Monday in the championship at 4 p.m.

It was a tight contest throughout as Piedmont took a six-point lead in the first half off a dunk by Israel Hall with 12:19 remaining. The two teams would swap leads multiple times with a total of 11 lead changes in the first half, but a Wiseman 3-pointer before the break gave Piedmont its largest lead of the game 43-36 at the break. 

Piedmont built a 13-point lead in the second half with just over 14 minutes to play, but Centre continued to claw back. The Lions were held scoreless from the floor for over four minutes as Centre cut it to a 66-63 lead for Piedmont.

The Lions did not surrender the lead in the second half, converting 5-of-6 free throws in the final minute to seal the win. 

Up next, the Lions will face Washington & Lee Monday at 4 p.m. in the final contest of 2024.

TURNING POINT:
--Piedmont shot 75% from the free throw line to account for five more points than Centre in what was a six-point victory for the Lions. 

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
--Bailey Wiseman scored 21 points to the lead the Lions with 17 in the first half alone.
--The 21 points tied a career-high for the senior as he set his career-best mark in the Lions' last outing against Southern Virginia. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
--Piedmont was outscored in the second half but held on for the victory. 

HOW TO FOLLOW:
- To stay up to date on all information regarding Piedmont University Athletics, be sure to visit PiedmontLions.com and connect with the Green and Gold on social media. Follow the Lions on X: @PiedmontLions, Instagram: @PiedmontLions, and Facebook.