Word of God and Piedmont Classical battled in the second game of the afternoon on Court 1, both coming off strong performances on Friday night. It was a back-and-forth affair for much of the first half, with neither team being able to break away from each other. The lead was traded back and forth on several occasions, as Word of God was led by Po'Boigh King and Dylan Purnell, while Piedmont Classical had a strong showing from Brent Randleman. Word of God started to play strong on the offensive end, operating their offense and finding good shots, eventually helping take the halftime lead 29-22. Second half, Saiquone Harris started to find his rhythm offensively for Word of God, as they were able to create a double-digit lead at the end of the third. Piedmont Classical continued to play strong though and started to chip away at the lead in the fourth, but Word of God answered right back and took home the 67-49 victory.
Stats:
Word of God:
Saiquone Harris 28 points
Po’Boigh King 15 points
Dylan Purnell 7 points
Piedmont Classical:
Brent Randleman 12 points
Caleb Farrish 12 points
Khalif Barnes 6 points
Standouts:
2021 Saiquone Harris (Word of God): Harris really started to showcase his offensive capability in the second half, becoming a mismatch on the floor with his size and versatility. Operating inside and out, he was able to produce from all areas, as well as finish through contact and get on the boards.
2022 Brent Randleman (Piedmont Classical): Randleman really had a good showing on both ends of the floor. Defensively, he was incredibly active and looking to get in opponents face. Offensively, he made good decisions and was able to do a little bit of everything. Good ball-handler and efficient scorer.
2023 Dylan Purnell (Word of God): I liked what I saw out of the young sophomore. He is a long, wiry frame and showed that he can operate along the wing or rise up over defenders with his length. Smooth jumper as well. Intriguing prospect to really keep an eye on but I liked what he showed today.
