SEWANEE, Tenn. –
Nikolas Avaliani posted 28 points and
Fletcher Bigham posted his fourth straight double-double, but Sewanee was unable to overcome a poor shooting first half in dropping a 96-80 decision at Piedmont University in men's basketball action Saturday in Demorest, Ga.
The Tigers (0-4) shot just 35 percent from the field in the first half and 3-for-17 from 3-point range, falling behind, 47-30. The Lions increased the lead to 21 points early in the second half, but Sewanee put together a 22-7 run over the next six minutes, pulling within 65-58 with 11 minutes to play.
The Tigers got as close as 73-68 with eight minutes to play after a 3-pointer from
Reid Carrier, who finished with 15 points and eight assists. Piedmont answered with an 8-0 spurt, pushing the advantage back to 13, and Sewanee never got closer than eight the rest of the way. The Lions also netted the final seven points of the game for the 16-point margin.
Avaliani opened the game with a 3-pointer, the only lead of the contest for the Tigers, before a layup and a 3-pointer by Israel Hall. Fisher Darden collected two baskets for the Lions before field goals by Avaliani and Bigham. Hall made a pair of triples for a 19-8 Piedmont advantage.
Sewanee cut the margin to eight twice thanks to field goals from
Philip Ryan and Bigham as well as a putback from Avaliani. Grady Robertson hit a 3-pointer for the Lions, but
Aidan Treacy answered with an old-fashioned 3-point play for the Tigers. Piedmont netted nine of the next 10 points, including a layup and a triple by Javi Marlowe and a putback from Robertson, taking a 15-point lead to intermission.
The Lions registered the first six points of the second period, stretching the lead to 53-32, but two field goals from Avaliani. Darden answered with a three and Parker Renault made two foul shots, pushing the advantage to 58-36.
Avaliani started the 22-7 spurt with a jumper, Carrier made a 3-pointer Treacy netted three straight baskets. Avaliani completed an old-fashioned 3-point play, pulling the Tigers within, 60-51, with 13 minutes to play. Hall netted a triple for the Lions and the teams traded baskets before a 3-pointer by Avaliani made it 65-58 with 11 minutes to go.
Renault collected two free throws and a layup for Piedmont and Jackson Houston's layup pushed the lead back to 11 for the home team, but a jumper by Avaliani and Carrier's triple cut the deficit to 71-65.
Three consecutive field goals by Silas Mulligan and a dunk by Houston stretched the advantage back to 81-68 with six minutes remaining and the Tigers never got closer than eight the rest of the way.
Bigham posted 16 points and 14 rebounds, hitting just 2-of-9 from behind the arc, and Treacy contributed 12 points off the bench. Avaliani finished 12-of-21 shooting overall with a pair of 3-pointers and eight rebounds.
Hall paced the Lions with 20 points while Marlowe collected 19 points and 13 boards and Renault collected 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Sewanee hosts Berea College next Sunday at 2 p.m. at Juhan Gymnasium.
