LaGrange and Piedmont will face off Wednesday in the first round of the USA South West Division Tournament at 6 p.m. in Mariotti Gym. This will be the third meeting of the season between the two teams. Per USA South policy, no fans will be allowed at the game. Fans can keep up with the game with Live Stats and Panthers Live.
Piedmont (10-6, 7-3 USA South) won the first game, 74-72, in its home gym Feb. 22. LC (7-3, 7-3 USA South) bounced back the next day to win 67-62 in Mariotti Gym. The victory started a six-game winning streak for the Panthers capped by an 88-76 win at top-seeded Maryville. The streak ended with an 88-81 loss to Maryville last Saturday. Piedmont comes into the game on a five game winning streak, with two of the games decided in overtime.
The Panthers have all five starters averaging in double figures, led by senior guard Julian Cameron. Cameron was the USA South Men's Basketball Player of the Week for the week ending Feb. 28. Cameron averaged 27.0 points per game in the two-game series with Maryville. Cameron tied his career high with 31 points in the Panthers' victory at Maryville. He was 8-of-13 shooting, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range, and a perfect 13-for-13 at the free throw line. Cameron had a game-high 23 points in the loss to Maryville. For the season, Cameron is leading the team and is fifth in the USA South averaging 18.8 points per game. He also leads the conference in free throw shooting with a 92.6 percentage (50-of-54).
Senior guard Ronald Youngblood is averaging 13.3 points and senior forward Kyle Brown 13.0. Brown leads the team in blocks (18) and steals (19). Senior forward Lincoln Anderson averages 12.7 points and a USA South-leading 9.2 rebounds per game. Anderson also is the conference leader in shooting percentage at 59.5. He is second to Brown with 16 blocks. Junior point guard Bershard Edwards is averaging 10.8 points per game. Edwards is shooting a conference-best 55.0% (22-of-40) from 3-point range. Edwards has dished out a team-high 29 assists.
In the first meeting, Cameron had a team-high 22 points and reached 1,000 points in his LC career. Anderson had a career-high 17 rebounds to go with 15 points. In the 67-62 win, the pair both recorded double-doubles. Anderson had 16 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, while Cameron had 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Piedmont is led by sophomore Ryan Jolly, who is averaging 18.2 points per game. Jolly averaged 24.0 points per game in the first two games. Senior Jordan Foote is averaging 13.8 points and a team-leading 8.1 rebounds per game.
The winner of Wednesday's game faces the Covenant-Maryville winner Saturday for the USA South West Division Tournament championship.
The Coaches
Greg Neeley is 95-101 in his eighth season at Piedmont and 114-111 overall. LC's Kendal Wallace has a 141-113 record in his 10th season. The Panthers have won three USA South Tournament titles and made four NCAA Division III national tournament appearances under Wallace.
Click HERE for the series history between Piedmont and LaGrange.
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