The Bruins basketball team suffered a tough loss on Tuesday evening as the team fell to Piedmont University 96-67 in Demorest, Georgia. With the loss, the Bruins fall to 8-9 on the season.
"We knew this was going to be a tough opponent for us," Bruins interim head coach Tony Miller said. "This was a great opportunity for some guys to get some good experience before we head down the home stretch with region play."
The Bruins came into the game after seeing their three-game winning streak snapped on Saturday in a region loss to Pensacola Christian College. The team looked to bounce back as they hit the road on Tuesday for a matchup with the Lions of Piedmont University.
Earlier this season, the Bruins made history defeating Piedmont for the first time in a 53-50 win in the Davis Field House. The Bruins hoped for similar results as the two teams took the court.
From the opening tip, the Bruins and Lions went back and forth trading baskets with neither able to build a sizable lead early on. The Lions then went on a 16-0 run fueled by hot shooting from beyond the arc as they took a 27-12 lead near the midway point of the first half.
The Bruins tried to battle back as Henry Blair scored points in the paint but the team couldn't seem to make a serious dent in the Lions lead. As a result, the Bruins found themselves trailing 48-32 at halftime.
As the second half began, the Bruins came out looking to battle their way back into the game. The team was able to cut into the deficit thanks to drives through the lane which resulted in high-percentage looks and trips to the free throw line. Just over five minutes into the half, the Bruins had cut the lead to 56-42.
The Lions came right back as they knocked down a three to spark a short run and extend their lead. Despite several efforts to cut into the lead, the Lions wouldn't be denied as they went on to win the game 96-67.
Henry Blair led the Bruins with 18 points while Stephan Hugley had 14 points and 8 rebounds in the loss. Next up, the Bruins will be on the road on Thursday as the team faces Toccoa Falls College in a South region matchup. Tip-off for the game is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Toccoa, Georgia.
