LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- The Covenant Scots basketball team can breathe a heavy sigh of relief. Their 12-game losing streak is over.
Freshman Bryant Engbers scored 24 first half points to propel the Scots to a 91-78 win over GSAC foe Piedmont College on Wednesday night in Barnes Physical Education Center. Covenant had not won a game since defeating Sewanee back on November 29.
Engbers scored from everywhere in the first 20 minutes of play. The forward connected on 9-of-11 from the field, including one 3-pointer, and was a perfect 5-for-5 at the free-throw line. Engbers' previous career-high of 14 points was broken when he nailed a 3-pointer with 7:27 left in the half to give Covenant a 27-25 lead. The Scots would not lose the lead after that.
Leading 43-35 at halftime, Covenant came out in the second half and quickly went up by 12 points after a layup by Damien Chaney. The Scots extended their lead to 60-43 sparked by a 9-1 scoring run that included five points from leading scorer Callum Sears.
Piedmont would make their push, however. The Lions rattled off a 12-0 run that was capped by a 3-pointer from Dylan Delaney that made it 60-55 in favor of the Scots. Sears would connect again from long distance on Covenant's next possession to push the Scots' lead back to eight at 63-55. Covenant took their largest lead of the game at 79-61 after a pair of free-throws from Sears.
Engbers scored just two points in the second half, but ended with 26 points on 10-of-12 shooting while picking up seven rebounds. Sears and Jon DeVries provided offense off the bench as they scored 15 points and 11 points, respectively. DeVries added a team-high nine rebounds and four assists. Rosbie Mutcherson scored 12 points while Nate Frierson added 10 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Damien Chaney tallied nine points and two rebounds.
Covenant (5-13, 1-3 GSAC) shot a season best 57.9 percent (33-57) from the floor and 21-of-29 from the free-throw line. The Scots also dished out a season-high 18 assists. Piedmont was limited to 46 percent shooting, but the Lions did knock down 10 3-pointers.
The Lions (4-14, 0-3 GSAC) were led by Delaney and Kyle Lundberg as both scored 16 points. Michael Ross added 15 points, while Richardson Myrthil chipped in 11 points and seven rebounds.
The Scots will return to action on Friday night when they take on Rust College on Lookout Mountain. Game time is set for 8 p.m.
