ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — Despite a strong second half comeback, the Piedmont College men's basketball team came up short on Saturday 77-69 against N.C. Wesleyan.
N.C. Wesleyan used a 9-0 run over a portion of the opening three minutes of play to break open the game and build a nice lead including hitting back-to-back 3-pointers in that stretch. Piedmont used a Justin Vallejo layup and the free throw after the foul to cut into the lead and make it a 6-point game with just under 10:00 to go to the break.
A pair of free throws by Chase England made it a three point game with 3:07 to go until halftime, but at the break, Piedmont trailed 34-23 after a 7-0 run by the Battling Bishops to end the half. Trailing by 11 to open the second period, the Lions surrendered another 3-pointer out of halftime and trailed by 20 with 14:34 remaining in the game.
The Lions got a pair of back-to-back 3-pointers from their hot hand Taylor Mills who cut the lead to 14 after his pair of shots beyond the arc. Shortly after, a 7-0 run by the Lions made it a 10 point game with just over 10:30 to play.
However, Piedmont could not keep it within reach as the Battling Bishops were ahead by 17 again with 5:16 remaining. Piedmont closed well down the stretch but it was too late to complete the comeback.
The Battling Bishops connected on nine 3-pointers in the game while Piedmont had eight, but seven of the Lions' 3-pointers came in the second half. N.C. Wesleyan scored 17 points off turnovers while Piedmont had just five.
