The Covenant men's basketball team put on a show in Barnes PE Center Tuesday night as they soundly defeated the visiting Tornados, 86-54.
Due to schedule restructuring caused by COVID, the contest was the Scots' first competition in 18 days (vs Buena Vista, Dec. 30) and first home game in over a month (vs Emory, Dec. 7).
The playing drought didn't seem to phase Covenant, though, as the team shot 52.2 percent from the floor (36-of-69) and hit 12 3-pointers off of 46.2 percent shooting (12-of-26).
The Scots had four players in double figures.
Chris Barnette (5-of-9 FG, 3-of-4 3PT) and Myles Jones (5-of-9 FG, 3-of-5 3PT) led the team with 13 points apiece. Jones scored 11 of his 13 in the first half, while Barnette also added six rebounds and five assists. Brady Palmer had 12 points, while Will Crumly had 11 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
Covenant also had several players with multiple 3-pointers. Barnette, Jones, and Jonathan Gernatt each tallied three makes from behind-the-arc, while Palmer added two.
Despite a hot first half for the Scots (shooting 53.1 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from 3-point land), Brevard found themselves only down by five with 5:50 left to play in the half.
But, from there, Covenant would quickly take an 18-point lead thanks to a 16-3 run to end the first half (41-23). Jones and Palmer both hit two 3-pointers during the scoring run.
In the second half, the Scots picked up right where they left off. The team shot over 50 percent from both the floor and from behind-the-arc, while quickly extending the lead over the visiting Tornados.
Back-to-back 3-pointers from Barnette and Gernatt helped Covenant gain a 22-point lead within the first six minutes of the second half (57-35). Over the next four minutes of play, they would string together another scoring run, outscoring Brevard 14-2 and gaining a 71-37 lead with just over 10 minutes left to play.
From there, Covenant continued to pack on the points, hitting another six 3-pointers during the half and ultimately sealing their 32-point victory (86-54).
Brevard was led by Carson Evans who had 13 points. Chancey Watson added 11 points.
Covenant improves to 2-0 in conference play (7-4 overall), while the Tornados fall to 1-2 (3-10 overall).
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Covenant will face LaGrange at home on Friday, January 21. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.