NEED TO KNOW:
Score: NC Wesleyan 78, Piedmont 77
Records: Piedmont, 6-3; NC Wesleyan 8-3

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - Piedmont men's basketball returned to action on Tuesday against the NC Wesleyan Battling Bishops and fell by a final of 77-78.

From the onset this was a close bout between the two squads, matching each other shot for shot. Towards the end of the first half, NC Wesleyan built a soft lead, but Piedmont continued to chip away, leading to a 37-41 score at half in favor of the Battling Bishops.

The scoring was spread well in the first half, as all starters for the Lions were involved, with Dylan Patrick leading the charge with 10 points. Caleb Lesch also contributed with six points off the bench in the first half. 

Coming out of the locker room, the Lions continued to fight as the Battling Bishops could not shake them away and create separation. Piedmont stole the lead away early in the half, but NC Wesleyan bounced back and took charge once more, but the Lions remained resilient as they never trailed by more than nine the entire contest.

While Patrick lead the team in points, Fisher Darden put together another a strong game, and with under three minutes to go, a pair of free throws from the senior gave the Lions the lead for the first time in the half.

The Battling Bishops did not go quietly as they brought the lead back, and from then on it was a neck-and-neck race to the end. 

With thirty seconds remaining and NC Wesleyan leading by one, Piedmont looked for an opening but had to burn two timeouts, leading to a Dylan Patrick jumper with five seconds left that found the bottom of the net to give the Lions a 77-76 lead. NC Wesleyan immediately called a timeout to position their final attempt. The Bishops would go for a shot as time expired, and a final foul would be given to Dylan Patrick, setting up the Bishops to put the game away from the free throw line. Rashod Smith landed the first and then the second shot, giving NC Wesleyan the win with a final of 78-77.

It was a true heartbreaker for the Lions, who battled all game and looked to come away with the win, but it was taken from them at the last possible moment.  

The Lions will look to have short memories as they will be back in action tomorrow against William Peace in Raleigh, N.C. at 1:00 p.m.

TURNING POINT:
- A late foul setting up a one and one chance at the free throw line for NC Wesleyan which ultimately won the game 

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Dylan Patrick led the team with 20 points. 
- Fisher Darden continued a good December with 13 points in the contest. 

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.