Chris Barnette scored a game-high tying 22 points and reached the 1,000-career point threshold to lead the Covenant men's basketball team to a 67-48 win at Berea on Tuesday night in USA South action.
Barnette needed 22 points to reach the career milestone and got exactly that on the night. The senior hit a jumper with 4:23 left in the second half to notch his 1,000th career point. Barnette has 844 points in his three seasons with the Scots after accumulating 156 points as a freshman at Mars Hill.
He also grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds and dished out four assists in the win.
Covenant (9-5, 4-1 USA South) took a two-point lead at the half and regained the lead for good on a Barnette jumper early in the second half.
That jumper sparked a 15-2 run for the Scots over a six-plus minute stretch as Covenant built a double-digit lead.
The spurt was capped by a pair of Promise Igbanu free throws that gave the Scots a 47-35 lead with 10:42 remaining. Berea got within seven (50-43) three minutes later, but a Brady Palmer 3-pointer followed by a Barnette jumper stretched the margin back 12 (55-43) with 4:23 left and the Scots coasted from there to the win.
Igbanu finished with 14 points and Palmer added 13 points in the win. Will Crumly was limited to four points, but grabbed eight rebounds. Jackson Fitzgerald had four points, eight rebounds, four assists, and four steals.
Covenant ended the night connecting on 42.9 percent (27-of-63) from the field with six 3-pointers. The Scots held a 44-30 rebounding edge.
Berea (4-11, 0-4 USA South) received 22 points from Trey Minter and 10 points from Kevion Hudson. The Mountaineers shot just 32.1 percent (17-of-53) from the floor with two 3-pointers.
Covenant heads to Maryville to face the No. 13-ranked Scots on Thursday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.