DEMOREST — The Piedmont College Lions could not outlast the Covenant Scots Wednesday night falling 79-68 in a contest they once led by as many as 11 points. The Lions took a five point lead into halftime but a 19-3 run late in the game sealed it for Covenant.
Piedmont was strong early as they got out to a fast start with a pair of back-to-back 3-pointers by Peyton Lukem and Trae Gaines helping to open up an early lead. It was the Lions who led throughout the first half stretching their lead to 11 points with 1:50 to go until the break, but Covenant pulled to within five points before the first 20:00 was complete.
The Lions hit five 3-pointers in the first half as each one seemed to provide a new spark for Piedmont. Gaines accounted for 10 points in the first half alone while ending the night with 12.
In the second half, the Scots outscored Piedmont 50-34 with 18 points coming from beyond the arc. An 8-2 run to start the second half gave Covenant its first lead of the night at 37-36 but Piedmont regained the lead and stretched it back out to eight points by the 15:50 mark.
Piedmont could not stay with the Scots, however, who shot 54.5 percent from 3-point range in the second half with six 3-pointers. A late 19-3 run over a five minute span sealed the game for Covenant as the Lions struggled the score down the stretch.
Piedmont will hit the road for three straight USA South games away from Cave Arena beginning with Methodist University on Saturday with tipoff at 4 p.m.
