From Emory University Athletics

Junior Christopher Avant scored 12 of his game-high 20 points in the second half and the Emory men's basketball team came up with some keys plays down the stretch in coming away with a Saturday win at Piedmont College. The Eagles captured their third straight game and boosted their record to 5-2 after rallying for a 65-59 decision over the Lions who slipped to 1-4.

Avant connected on eight-of-13 field goal attempts and sank three free throws in five opportunities in notching his sixth straight double-figure scoring effort of the year. He also grabbed a team-best eight rebounds, the fourth time this year that he ranked as the Eagles' leader on the glass. Junior Adam Gigax picked up 17 points while senior Jim Gordonrounded out the double-figure scorers with 11 points.

Emory closed out the contest converting 37.9 percent (25 of 66) from the floor while the Lions finished at 38.2 percent (21 of 55). Emory held a slight 42-39 advantage in rebounding,

With Gigax and Avant scoring nine and eight points, respectively, Emory took a 30-25 lead heading into halftime. The Eagles never trailed during the opening 20 minutes of action and led by as many as 10 points, 22-12, with 4:55 left in the stanza following a bucket by Gigax. 

Piedmont opened the final half on a 9-0 run, to take a 34-30 lead. The Eagles countered with a 7-2 spurt, capped by a bucket by sophomore Gebereall Baitey to take a one-point edge, but seven unanswered points by the hosts staked it to a 43-37 cushion with 12:48 remaining. Avant then scored the first five points of an 11-3 Emory blitz that allowed it to claim a 48-46 lead. The Eagles then went scoreless for a four-minute stretch while Piedmont scored seven points in a row to reclaim the lead at 53-48 with 5:06 remaining. 

After Gigax nailed a three pointer, the Lions responded with a pair of free throws, but Emory held Piedmont scoreless over a three-minute stretch while going on an 8-0 run, capped by an Avant jumper, to take a 59-55 lead with 1:05 on the clock. After two Piedmont makes from the stripe, a clutch three pointer by junior Whit Rapp extended Emory's advantage to 62-57 with 24 seconds remaining.  After Piedmont misfired on a three-point try on its ensuing possession, Avant put the game out of reach with two free throws with nine seconds remaining.