LAGRANGE, Ga. -- Even though their record may show otherwise, the Covenant Scots can be a dangerous team. Just ask Great South Athletic Conference leader LaGrange.
Four players scored in double figures and Covenant led for almost the entire game as they upset the LaGrange Panthers 77-72 on Saturday afternoon at Mariotti Gym. With the win, Covenant gives LaGrange (9-12, 4-1 GSAC) their first conference blemish of the season while the Scots (6-15, 2-4) get their first true road win of the year.
LaGrange's only lead of the game came at the 14:51 mark of the first half when Joey Anderkavich converted a three-point play to give the Panthers a 10-9 lead. Back-to-back layups by Jon DeVries and Rosbie Mutcherson gave the advantage back to Covenant at 13-10 and the Scots would not trail the rest of the game.
Covenant expanded their lead to as many as nine points on two occasions in the first half before settling for a 37-32 halftime lead. Sparked by a 3-pointer by Callum Sears, the Scots went on a 9-0 run early in the second half to take a 46-34 lead, Covenant's largest of the game, with 17:35 left. LaGrange would slowly chip away at the Scots' lead.
Trailing 56-45, the Panthers ripped off a 7-0 spurt, capped by a jumper from Blake Craft that cut the Covenant lead to 56-52 with under 10 minutes to play. Anderkavich then brought LaGrange even closer with a layup that made it 57-54. Damien Chaney had the response for the Scots as his layup halted the Panthers' run and began an 8-2 run for Covenant that ended with a TJ Cox 3-pointer to give the visitors a 65-56 lead.
A layup by Sears gave Covenant an 11-point lead at 74-63 with just 28 seconds remaining, but LaGrange had one last gasp. A technical foul on the Scots resulted in a four-point possession for the Panthers as they cut it to 74-67. After a Covenant turnover, LaGrange's Marcus Vaughn hit a pair of free throws to make it 74-69 with 13 ticks left. Denzel Robinson then drained a 3-pointer to slice the Covenant lead down to three with eight seconds to go, but Sears answered with two free throws to secure the win for Covenant.
Sears led Covenant with 18 points to go along with five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Cox and Chaney each added 14 points with Cox dishing out five assists. DeVries recorded his second double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Mutcherson chipped in with eight points and six rebounds. Starting for the first time this season, Paul Werkema added seven rebounds and three assists.
LaGrange was led by Aaron Power and Robinson who both scored 16 points. Anderkavich tallied 11 points while Kyron Anderson poured in 10 points. Vaughn grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.
Covenant returns to Barnes Physical Education Center on Feb. 8 when they host GSAC foe Huntingdon College. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m.
