MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Despite putting three players in double figures and shooting 54 percent as a team, the Covenant Scots again found themselves on the wrong side of the scoreboard Saturday afternoon. Five players scored in double digits for Huntingdon College as the Hawks took a 79-65 victory over the Scots in GSAC action.
The field goal percentage for Covenant (4-13, 0-3 GSAC) was their highest of the season, the previous high came in the Scots' last win against Sewanee when they shot 51 percent. But 24 turnovers negated much of the sharp-shooting that Covenant displayed.
The Scots took their only lead of the game on a layup by Jon DeVries that made it 4-3 just 2:32 into the contest. Huntingdon's Austin Hill nailed a 3-pointer two possessions later that gave the Hawks a 6-4 lead, one that they would not let go of the rest of the way.
The Hawks took their largest lead of the first half at 32-15 on a Hill layup with 9:13 left. Trailing 41-26, Covenant began to chip away at the Huntingdon lead. The Scots finished out the first half on a 10-2 scoring run, ended by a Colton McGriff conventional three-point play, to make it a 43-36 game at halftime.
Immediately out of halftime, the Scots continued to narrow the gap as Bryan Engbers' layup made it 43-38 less than a minute into the second half. Huntingdon had the answer, though, as they rattled off a 12-2 run to take a 15-point lead at 55-40. Covenant wasn't done yet as they responded with an 11-0 run of their own. Damien Chaney had a layup and a dunk, while Callum Sears scored five points and Rosbie Mutcherson capped the run with a jumper that made it 57-53 in favor of the Hawks with 12:29 remaining.
In this game of scoring runs, it was Huntingdon that had the most meaningful run. The Hawks outscored Covenant 18-4 over an eight minute period to take their largest lead of the game at 75-57 with just under four minutes left.
Engbers led Covenant with 14 points and tied for the team-high in rebounds with five. Sears added 11 points off the bench while McGriff tallied 10 points and five rebounds. The Scots were 25-for-46 from the field and 12-for-16 from the free-throw line.
Huntingdon (6-10, 2-1 GSAC) was led in scoring by Hill's 17 points. Jeremiah Thomas added 14 points and Jason Varney scored 13 points. Courtnee Edgar and Ryan Petty had 10 points apiece.
Covenant will be back in action on Jan. 25 with a home game against Piedmont College. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. at Barnes Physical Education Center.
