KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Callum Sears had 21 points and Colton McGriff added 19 more, but the Covenant Scots could not hold on to a double-digit second half lead as they fell to Florida Christian 81-75 on Monday night.

Covenant (4-10) dropped their ninth straight decision with the loss while Florida Christian (7-8) wins their fifth in a row.

The Scots held a 70-57 edge after a 3-pointer by Sears with 5:02 left in the game, but the Suns responded by going on a 16-1 scoring run capped by an A.J. Williams steal and dunk. Trailing 73-71, Covenant tied the game on a pair of free-throws by Damien Chaney with just over two minutes remaining. But the Scots had difficulty getting good looks at the basket and Florida Christian capitalized by scoring four straight points to take a 77-73 lead and they would not look back.

The first half featured five ties and four lead changes before Covenant took control thanks to 15-4 run in the final five minutes of the half. Bryant Engbers' 3-pointer gave the Scots a 32-26 lead and Covenant would go into the break with a 35-30 advantage.

Sears connected on 8-of-16 from the field, including five 3-pointers. McGriff hit 9-of-12 from the floor and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Engbers added 10 points and three rebounds. As a team, Covenant had one of their better shooting nights as they shot 50 percent (29-58) overall with nine 3-pointers.

The Suns placed four players in double figures led by Williams' 21 points and eight rebounds. The guard tandem of Terrence Taylor and Montique Lynch tallied 20 points and 17 points, respectively. Quinton Haugabook chipped in 14 points, five rebounds, and three steals.

The Scots begin Great South Athletic Conference play on Wednesday night when they travel to perennial power Maryville College. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.