The Covenant men's basketball team held a slim halftime lead, but could not hold on as host Greensboro rallied with a big second half to defeat the Scots 80-67 on Saturday afternoon at Hanes Gymnasium.
Covenant (7-8, 1-4 USA South) has dropped three straight games.
The Scots looked good in the opening 20 minutes as they shot 50 percent (15-of-30) from the field and led 37-34 entering halftime. Even with the strong shooting numbers, Covenant trailed for most of the half until the final five minutes.
Down 32-28, Covenant scored the next six points as Berto Dryden, Caleb Haynes and Bailey Spragg all made field goals on consecutive possessions giving the Scots a 34-32 advantage.
In the waning seconds of the half, Nick Palmer converted a three-point play to give Covenant a 37-34 lead into halftime.
Greensboro controlled the second half as the Pride shot 52 percent in the period and were 17-of-25 from the foul line and used those shooting numbers to gain a lead they would not relinquish. A pair of 8-0 runs and a 10-0 spurt gave Greensboro a 21-point lead late in the half before Covenant made a comeback. The Scots cut the deficit to 75-67 with just under a minute left on a Z Arima layup, but would get no closer the rest of the way.
Four players scored in double figures for Covenant led by Arima's 15 points to go along with six rebounds and two assists. Palmer scored a career-high 11 points with one assist off the bench, while Dryden also had 11 points. Spragg added 10 points and four rebounds, Patjo Twagirayezu tallied seven points, eight rebounds and two assists.
Covenant finished the game shooting 48.1 percent (25-of-52) from the field with eight 3-pointers.
Greensboro (9-4, 3-0 USA South) was led by 21 points off the bench from Darus Maddox. Joseph Gatling had 19 points and Donovan Griffith had 16 points and eight rebounds. Christopher Corbin also hit double figures with 11 points.
The Pride were an identical 48.1 percent (25-of-52) shooting, but went to the free throw line for 40 attempts (making 25). Greensboro also scored 32 points off 21 Covenant turnovers.
Covenant will remain on the road for a USA South contest at Piedmont on Wednesday. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. in Demorest, Ga.
Host Huntingdon used a big fourth quarter to overcome the Covenant women's basketball team, 69-61, on Saturday night at Roland Arena in USA South action.
Covenant (6-8, 0-4 USA South) received a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds from Joanna Smith and a career-high 19 points from Kaley Hallmark in the loss. The Scots have dropped four straight games overall.
The Scots forged a five-point lead heading into the fourth quarter after outscoring Huntingdon 23-18 in the third. Hallmark had eight of her 19 points in the period as Covenant shot 50 percent from the field with three 3-pointers.
Covenant went on a 10-0 run to start the third period, highlighted by 3-pointers from Hallmark and Emma Grimes, to grab a 40-30 lead with 8:03 left in the period. Huntingdon would cut the lead to three late in the period, but Aleigha Williams gave the Scots a 53-48 edge with a jumper in the final 10 seconds of the quarter.
In the fourth, Huntingdon turned its shooting woes around and Covenant had difficulty getting baskets as the Hawks rallied. The game was tied at 59 after a Smith layup with 4:17 left, but Huntingdon finished the game on a 10-2 run to collect the victory.
Williams also scored in double digits with 10 points and three rebounds for the Scots. Grimes had six points and Rachel Price grabbed seven rebounds.
Covenant limited its turnovers with a season-low 12 for the game, but could shoot just 34.9 percent (22-of-63) from the field. The Scots did connect on 12-of-15 at the free throw line.
Five players scored in double figures for Huntingdon (11-3, 4-1 USA South) with Jello Weatherspoon's 14 points leading the way. TI Duncan, Juliette Harp and Keturah Billen each had 13 points, while Jenna Dorman had 10. The Hawks shot 41.3 percent (26-of-63) for the game and held a 48-35 rebounding edge.
UP NEXT
Covenant will travel to Macon, Ga., on Friday, Jan. 20 to face USA South West foe Wesleyan. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.