LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- Tuesday night, the 2010-11 Covenant men's basketball team came home to Barnes Gymnasium for the first time this year, but despite a solid first half, the Scots suffered their fourth loss of the season, losing to the visiting Vikings of Berry College by a score of 71-62. Covenant, who has now opened the season 0-4 for the third straight year, was led in scoring by Sam Bowman (14) and Kacey Chambers (12).
The Scots started the game 4 for 16 from the field which helped the Vikings build a 9 point lead through the first 9 minutes of the first half. A quick turnaround, however, saw Covenant score on their next 5 possessions as the team climbed back to take the lead. During that run, buckets from Bowman and Damien Chaney were capped off by a 3-pointer from Chambers that made the score 23-22 with 6:50 left. But within minutes, the game teetered back to a 6 point Berry lead before Covenant again rallied to retake the lead, this time off Zarome Lakey's converted 3-point play at the 2:23 mark. Several turnovers and missed shots later, and the score was even at 35-35 as the teams headed for the locker room.
The second half started almost completely different than the first for the Scots. After a missed shot on their first possession, Covenant went 3 for their next 3 to take a 3 point lead, the largest of the night for the home team. Costly turnovers and poor shooting over the next few minutes, though, hindered the Scots from extending that lead and allowed the streaky Vikings to hang around.
With the game tied for the eleventh time at 51, Berry guard Josh Bracken made a layup which started a 14-0 run for the Vikings, and Covenant was unable to recover. Over the remaining 3 minutes of action, the Scots could only pull the game back to within 9.
One of the biggest differences in the overall outcome of the game was the number of free throws taken by either side. Covenant, although going 4-4 in the first half, went 8-15 from the free throw line for the game. Berry, on the other hand, earned a total of 18 different trips and went 21-32. Interestingly enough, the Scots committed only 1 more foul than the opposition.
Covenant will be back in action on Wednesday, December 1 at LaGrange College in LaGrange, Georgia. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00pm, right after the girls' game.
