LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- In a game that saw the two teams shoot a combined 36-of-101 from the field, it was the Huntingdon Hawks who made just enough shots to get by Covenant 58-51 in a Great South matchup Wednesday night inside Barnes Physical Education Center.
Covenant (6-16, 2-5 GSAC) put two players in double figures led by Damien Chaney's 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Callum Sears added 11 points, grabbed a team-high six rebounds, and had one steal. The Scots shot 35.3 percent (18-of-51) for the game, including just two 3-pointers.
The first half saw neither team lead by more than five points and the score was tied five times. Covenant went a on mini-spurt to end the half as they outscored Huntingdon 10-5 over the final two minutes of the half. The Scots went up 33-28 at halftime thanks to Rosbie Mutcherson's buzzer-beating 3-pointer from the top of the key.
The Hawks came back to tie the game at 36-36 after Kanden Blackmon connected on a 3-pointer with 16:52 left in regulation. The two teams traded baskets for the next few minutes before Huntingdon took the lead for good on a Jason Varney jumper that made it 42-41 midway through the second half.
Needing a boost in momentum, Covenant got it from Colton McGriff. McGriff received a pass from Nate Frierson and muscled through a Huntingdon defender to score and got fouled in the process. McGriff made the one-shot free throw to bring the Scots to within five points at 51-46. Joey Danek, playing for the first time since being injured nearly a month ago, rebounded his own miss and made the putback to make it 53-49. Chaney then brought Covenant even closer when he connected on a jumper that made it 53-51 with just over a minute left.
Covenant could not get closer than that, however. Jeremiah Thomas made a layup following the Chaney basket and the Hawks made just enough free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
Huntingdon (7-14, 3-3) put three players in double figures with Thomas leading the way with his 15 points and nine rebounds. Ryan Petty added 12 points and six steals, while Varney chipped in 11 points. The Hawks shot just 36 percent (18-of-50) for the night and 3-of-18 from behind the 3-point line.
The Scots will pay tribute to its graduating seniors on Saturday afternoon when they host Tennessee Temple. Game time is set for 2 p.m.
