Berto Dryden scored a career-high 30 points, but the Covenant men's basketball team could not overcome a double-digit halftime deficit in a 92-86 loss at Sewanee on Tuesday night inside Juhan Gymnasium.
The loss snaps a three-game winning streak for Covenant (3-2).
Dryden scored 25 of his 30 in the second half as he went 10-of-13 from the field with five 3-pointers, but the Scots could not complete a second half comeback.
After trailing by 11 at the break, Covenant climbed back into the contest by virtue of the 3-point shot.
The Scots made nine triples in the second half alone to slice into Sewanee's lead. The host Tigers led 58-48 with 14 minutes remaining, but the Scots would go on an 18-8 run over the next five-plus minutes to tie the score at 66-66 after a Nick Palmer layup with 8:39 remaining.
Sewanee regained the lead a few minutes later before a James Mitchell 3-pointer tied the score at 69 apiece with 5:44 left. Sewanee answered with a conventional three-point play from Adrian Thomas to go ahead 72-69 and the Tigers would lead the rest of the way. Covenant remained within striking distance over the final minutes, but free throws and key baskets from the Tigers thwarted any comeback attempt from the Scots.
Patjo Twagirayezu produced a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Bailey Spragg nearly had a double-double with his 15 points and nine assists. Mitchell added 12 points on four 3-pointers and Caleb Haynes scored eight points with three rebounds. Haynes went 4-of-5 from the field and made his first two shots to extend his streak of consecutive made field goals to 17 before missing early in the second half.
Covenant shot it well from the field as it connected on 50.7 percent (34-of-67) with 10 3-pointers and an 8-of-11 effort at the free throw line. The Scots had 16 assists on those 34 made field goals.
Sewanee built a 43-32 lead at halftime after shooting just over 55 percent in the opening 20 minutes. After Covenant took a seven-point lead early in the first half, Sewanee caught up and then finished the half on an 18-7 scoring run to take the double-digit lead into the break.
Sewanee (4-3) shot 56.4 percent (31-of-55) from the field and were led in scoring by Luke Smith's 23 points and five 3-pointers. Thomas and Cam Caldwell had 17 points each and Michael Barry had 15 points. Hunter Buescher added 13 points.
UP NEXT
Covenant will return to the road on Wednesday with a trip to Atlanta to face region foe Emory. Tip-off at Woodruff PE Center is set for 7 p.m.