GREENSBORO, N.C.— The Greensboro College men's basketball team suffered a loss to the Piedmont College Lions Saturday, 74-68.
 
The Lions put up 10 points in the first five minutes of the contest, but seniors Demetrius Tilley and Cornelius Johnson refused to fold.
 
Tilley sparked a 16-7 run with a three-point basket and a layup, while Johnson racked up nine points during the six-minute run. Senior Daron Gipson recorded the remaining basket with a layup from Darus Maddox.
 
As time ran out in the first half, Greensboro struggled from the field while Piedmont's offense heated up to take a 35-25 lead going into halftime.
 
Over the first ten minutes of the second half, Tilley and Johnson recorded four points each as the Pride started to eat away at the deficit.
 
Freshman Justin Minnis helped Greensboro ignite a 22-13 run with a three-point basket to pull within five points at 69-64 with just 44 seconds showing on the clock. During the run, Joseph Gatling put up six points while Daron Gipson tacked on four points of his own. Maddox (3), Tilley (2), Burnette (2) and Johnson (2) combined for the remaining nine points.
 
Following the run, Gatling knocked down a basket to pull the Pride within three, but Piedmont pulled away with the win in the last few seconds.
 
I thought that in the first half, we played one of our better defensive halves all year since we only gave up 35 points, but we struggled offensively as we had a lot of individual basketball going on," Head Coach Bryan Galuski said. "I think our battle during the second half was good and we didn't quit.
 
"Outside the loss, we had a great day as Hanes Gymnasium was full of Greensboro College greats. We had a Hall of Fame honorary guest coach in Damon Forney and we were able to recognize our 1993-1994 elite eight men's basketball team at halftime. A half dozen members of the team and their assistant coach came out today and they reminded all of us about what success is and what can come of it."
 
Gatling finished with a game-high 17 points, while Johnson followed behind with 16. Tilley also recorded in double figures scoring with 12 points and Burnette hauled in a team-high nine rebounds.
 
The Pride return to the court Sunday at 3 p.m. when they host the Tornados of Brevard College in Hanes Gymnasium. For more information on Greensboro College men's basketball, continue to follow www.greensborocollegesports.com.