(DEMOREST)– It was a record-breaking night for Joe Helenbrook, but the Lions were not able to keep pace with Brevard in an 86-83 loss on Sunday.
Helenbrook grabbed 23 rebounds which set a new program record, surpassing the previous mark of 19. Helenbrook has now tallied 57 rebounds in the last three games combined.
Piedmont was unable to claim the lead at any point in this contest as Brevard took the lead early and led by as many as nine in the first half. The Lions continued to keep it close and clawed their way back multiple times.
The Tornados made eight 3-pointers in the first half which proved to be the difference as Piedmont had just two in the opening half.
Brevard banked a 3-pointer to start the second half and increased their lead to 12 in the opening minutes. Joe Helenbrook secured a fast-break dunk with 15:27 to play to cut the lead to six while a layup on the next possession by Noah Reardon cut it to a 56-52 deficit.
The Tornados were able to stretch the lead to 15 with 8:34 to play and time ran out on the rally. In the final eight minutes of play, the Piedmont defense held Brevard to just 10 points while the offense for the Lions tacked on 22 points.
The three point deficit as the final score was the closest Piedmont was able to come since the final five minutes of play in the first half.
Up next, the Lions will host Bob Jones on Tuesday evening inside Cave Arena as part of a doubleheader with tipoff slated for 7 p.m.
TURNING POINT:
–Piedmont went into the half trailing by seven and could not mount a comeback from that point despite getting close repeatedly.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
—Joe Helenbrook etched his name in the Piedmont record book with an astounding 23 rebounds in the contest including 14 offensive boards.
—Ryan Jolly scored 31 points and added six assists in the game.
NEWS AND NOTES:
–Brevard had 14 3-pointers to Piedmont’s eight with five of those 3-pointers for the Lions coming in the final 5:37 of the game.
