DEMOREST — Thanks to Kelly Assinesi's composure at the charity stripe, the Piedmont College men's basketball team claimed a 59-56 victory over the visiting Scots of Covenant College Wednesday. Assinesi connected on a pair of free throws with 12 seconds left and again with six seconds left to seal the victory.
It was a tight game throughout as it was never more than a seven point game as Piedmont took a seven point lead with 14:35 to play in the first half after a 12-0 run. After scoring 12 straight in just over four minutes, the Lions struggled offensively adding just 13 points over the remainder of the first half.
The Scots held their largest lead of the game at six points in the waning minutes of the first half and went into the break up 30-25. Four quick free throws by Chase England and a 3-pointer by Trae Gaines got the Lions even with the Scots at 32 two minutes into the second half.
A quick seven point run by the Lions put them up by seven 41-34 with just under 15:00 to play in the game, but the Scots worked it back to a two point game with 11:44 to play after a 3-pointer by Patjo Twagirayezu. A 3-pointer by Bailey Spragg, the leading scorer in the game with 19 points, with 4:37 to play tied the contest at 49.
A layup plus the and-one opportunity for Caleb Haynes put the Scots up by three, but after a Justin Vallejo free throw, Assinesi picked off a ball with a steal and fast-break layup to tie the game once again at 52.
Cave Arena is known for clutch 3-pointers this season as the Lions' own Taylor Mills connected on a game-tying shot against Sewanee, but this time it was Peyton Luken stroking it from behind the arc with 1:23 to play to put PC up 55-52.
Spragg hit a free throw with 1:04 to play but missed the second leaving the Scots trailing by two. Each team missed a layup but then it was Assinessi who iced the game making a pair of free throws to put PC up four.
The Scots quickly hit a 3-pointer as Spragg notched his fourth of the game with seven seconds to go but Assinesi was fouled on the inbounds play and made both shots from the line to secure a Lion win.
