BIRMINGHAM -- The Covenant men's basketball team played the Methodist University Monarchs in its second game of the BSC Holiday Classic on Saturday, but another slow start facilitated the Scots tenth loss of the season and second on neutral court.  Covenant spotted the Monarchs 8 points through the first three and a half minutes, but unlike the Birmingham Southern game the night before, the team was never able to fight its way back.  The Methodist lead hung around 15 for much of the first half before escalating to 29 at the intermission, then climbing to as many as 33 in the second half.

The Scots forced the Monarchs into 28 turnovers, but any difference they might have gained from that category was given away in the rebounding margin.  Covenant lost the rebounding battle 43-16, including 17-9 on their own end of the floor, and allowed Methodist to claim 15 second chance points.

Kacey Chambers and Callum Sears again provided much of the offense with 12 and 10 points, respectively.  Zarome Lakey and Jon DeVries, who provided some spark in the second half, finished with 9 apiece.

Methodist's Tanner Carnes led all players in both scoring (17) and rebounds (11), claiming his third double-double of the season.

The Scots move to 1-10 going into Christmas break but will still look to improve that record before 2011.  Upcoming opponents include Ferrum College on Thursday, December 30 and Spalding University on Friday, December 31.  Both games begin at 2:00pm.