ATLANTA -- Searching for their first true road win of the season, the Covenant Scots took Oglethorpe University into overtime before being defeated by the Stormy Petrels 78-72 on Wednesday night in Atlanta.
It was the first overtime game that the Scots have been a part of since November of 2009 when they were beaten at home by Berry College. Covenant drops to 4-3 on the season, while Oglethorpe improves to 4-5.
Covenant withstood an early barrage of Stormy Petrel baskets in the early minutes of the game. Oglethorpe took a quick 9-1 lead on a layup from Andrew Steioff and led 16-8 with 14:51 left in the first half. Trailing 30-24 with less than two minutes before halftime, Covenant used a 6-0 scoring spurt with a pair of free-throws from T.J. Cox and Bryant Engbers and a layup by Jon DeVries in the closing moments of the half to tie the game.
In the second 20 minutes, the Scots took their first lead of the night when DeVries converted a steal by Zarome Lakey into a layup to make it 34-33. Covenant then took its largest lead on their next possession when Callum Sears connected on a jumper that made it 36-33 with 18:15 left in regulation.
Both teams then traded baskets for the better part of the half. Oglethorpe grabbed a 63-58 lead after two made free-throws from Christian Molinet at the 2:13 mark. The Scots then regained the lead on their next two possessions when DeVries and Sears each completed conventional three-point plays to put Covenant up 64-63. The Stormy Petrels' Alex Davis then calmly knocked down two free-throws with 47 seconds remaining to tie the game at 65 apiece. Both teams had chances to take the lead late, but neither could capitalize.
The Scots took a quick 67-65 lead in overtime on a Sears steal and layup, but Oglethorpe answered back by scoring the next six points capped by an Alec Pitts layup that made it 71-67. Covenant cut that deficit down to one point on another Sears jumper and a Colton McGriff free-throw, but that was as close as the Sots would get.
Sears again led the Scots in scoring with 23 points on 9-for-17 shooting while picking up three rebounds and three steals. Joey Danek added 13 points and four rebounds and Cox chipped in with 10 points and four assists. McGriff and Engbers each grabbed a team-high five rebounds. Covenant shot 42.9 percent (27-63) from the field, but made only five 3-pointers and connected on 13-for-25 from the foul line.
Oglethorpe put four players in double figures led by Steioff's 15 points. Pitts and Branden Jovaag each scored 14 points, while Davis tallied 11 points, including 7-for-8 from the foul line. Molinet led the Stormy Petrels with 10 assists while scoring eight points.
Covenant will return to Lookout Mountain on Saturday to take on North Carolina Wesleyan College at 2 p.m.
