Berto Dryden led the Covenant men's basketball team with 19 points and came up with a crucial steal and layup in the final seconds to preserve a 74-70 season-opening victory over No. 15-ranked Emory on Tuesday night at Barnes PE Center.
The win gives Covenant (1-0) its first program win over Emory, after dropping the first seven games of the series, and also marks the first time the Scots have defeated a nationally-ranked team in the NCAA era.
The Scots led for much of the contest, but a double-digit lead all but dwindled away in the final minutes of the second half.
Emory cut the lead to one at 71-70 with 17 seconds left, but Bailey Spragg extended that lead to 72-70 after making 1-of-2 at the free throw line. On the ensuing Emory possession, Dryden picked the pocket of Whit Rapp and took it the rest of the way for a layup with seven seconds left and a 74-70 lead.
Dryden had 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting to go with two rebounds and two steals. Will Portlockadded 11 points, eight rebounds and a team-high four assists, while Patjo Twagirayezu had 10 points and eight rebounds before fouling out. Spragg contributed seven points and rebounds in the win.
In a rematch of last year's NCAA Tournament first round, the two teams started fast. Emory surged ahead 10-4 after an Adam Gigax 3-pointer with 15:51left in the first half before Covenant came roaring back. The Scots would take the lead for good at 23-22 on a Dryden 3-pointer at the 6:11 mark. Covenant entered halftime with a 36-32 lead.
In the second half, the Scots' lead would grow to as many as 13 points at 67-54 after a couple of Portlock free throws with 3:48 remaining. Emory sliced into that lead by going on a 16-4 run to cut it to 71-70.
Emory (0-1) received a game-high 26 points from Adam Gigax and 25 points from Jim Gordon. Rapp dished out seven assists and had seven steals.
Covenant shot 44.4 percent (28-of-63) from the floor and 12-of-17 from the foul line. Emory was held to 38.6 percent (22-of-57) shooting and committed 22 turnovers, which Covenant turned into 25 points.
Covenant will host a full slate of games this weekend at Barnes PE Center. The Scots host University of Dallas on Friday at 7:30 p.m., after LaGrange takes on Emory & Henry at 5:30p.m.
In the women's game, Emma Grimes led three players in double figure scoring with 17 points, while Joanna Smith had 15 points and nine rebounds to lead the Scots past Sewanee 68-58 in the season opener on Tuesday night inside Barnes PE Center.
The win for Covenant (1-0) is its second straight season-opening victory. Sewanee drops to 0-1 on the year.
Grimes made a splash in her Covenant debut as she hit five 3-pointers and had 17 points to go with five rebounds.Joanna Smith just missed a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds along with five assists. Kaley Hallmark also scored in double figures with 11 points, five assists and five rebounds.
Covenant held a significant rebounding margin over the visiting Tigers at 49-24, and used 19 offensive rebounds to score 25 points. Aleksandreja Kulits led all players with 13 rebounds. The Scots shot 41.7 percent (25-of-60) from the field with seven 3-pointers, while going 11-of-13 from the foul line.
In a tightly played first half, Covenant led 14-11 after the first quarter and would extend that lead to 24-11 after a Grimes trey with 5:42 left in the second. Sewanee narrowed the lead to just four at halftime, 29-25.
In the third period, Covenant again pushed its margin to double digits. The Scots led 46-33 after a pair of Smith free throws with 1:35 left and entered the fourth with a nine-point lead. Sewanee would get to within six at 62-56 with 1:20 left in the fourth, but a Smith jumper on Covenant's next possession sealed the win for the Scots.
Kulits added six points with her 13 rebounds. Aleigha Williams and Bekah Walter each added six for Covenant.
Sewanee was led by Bella Taylor's 24 points on 10-of-14 shooting. Hannah McCormack had 14 points and Corey Caulder 10 for the Tigers.
Covenant will travel to Danville, Ky., this weekend for a pair of contests. The Scots face host Centre on Friday at 7 p.m.