LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- For the second consecutive game, Covenant's poor shooting performance did them in as they fell to the Huntingdon College Hawks 54-49 Saturday afternoon at Barnes Gymnasium. Covenant was plagued by its poor shooting in Thursday night's loss to Piedmont. In that game, the Scots shot just 34.4% from the field. On Saturday, Covenant had an even more difficult time putting the ball through the basket as they shot a meager 27.1% from the floor.
The Hawks and Scots battled in the first half with neither team leading by more than five points as the score was tied six times. A layup from guard Kacey Chambers gave Covenant their largest lead of the game at 4-0 at the 17:49 mark of the first half. Huntingdon climbed back into the game and lead by five after D'Awvalo Turnipseed's three-pointer put the Hawks up 20-15. Despite a field goal drought that lasted 8:17, the Scots tied the game at 25 with a Sam Bowman layup that went through the net as time expired in the first half.
Bowman continued his hot shooting in the second half as he connected on his first 3 shot attempts while giving the Scots a 31-29 lead with 16:20 left in the contest. From there, however, the Hawks methodically pulled away from Covenant. A jumper by Adrian Williams gave Huntingdon a double-digit lead at 46-35 with 8:56 left in the game. Covenant was able to cut their deficit down to only five with 37 seconds remaining after a Damien Chaney layup, but Huntingdon would hit enough free throws down the stretch to hold on to the win.
Bowman and Chambers led Covenant in scoring with 12 points each. Bowman added in 9 rebounds while Chambers also contributed 3 steals for Covenant, who sees its record fall to 1-8 on the year. Chaney also chipped in 9 points and 7 rebounds as Covenant out-rebounded the Hawks 46-38 on the day.
Huntingdon (5-3) was led by a quartet of players in double figures. Turnipseed scored 11 points, including 3 three pointers. Williams and Ephriam Hudson each scored 10 points. James Daniels achieved a double-double with 10 rebounds to go along with 10 points.
Covenant will be off for the next six days due to final exams, but the team will take the court again next weekend in the Birmingham Southern Classic. The Scots will take on the host Panthers of Birmingham Southern College on Friday at 8:00pm and then Methodist University at 2:00pm on Saturday. The next home game is scheduled for Thursday, December 30 against Ferrum College at 2:00pm.
