SEWANEE, Tenn. -- Once again the Covenant men's basketball team saw a double digit second half lead disappear but, unlike last Saturday, the Scots were able to come away with the victory.
Colton McGriff scored 17 points to lead Covenant as the Scots claimed a thrilling 62-59 overtime win over Sewanee on Tuesday night.
It was the first overtime game for Covenant since December 7, 2011 when they lost at Oglethorpe 78-72. The win is also Covenant's first true road victory of the season.
McGriff scored the first six points in the overtime period and had nine points in the second half and overtime. T.J. Cox had 15 points, 13 coming in the first half, and Sam Bowman added 11 points and six rebounds.
Covenant (11-7) started off hot as they led 7-0 after a Jon DeVries layup less than four minutes into the game. Cox drained three 3-pointers in the first half to aid the Scots' advantage and a pair of DeVries free-throws, after a steal, gave Covenant its biggest lead of the half at 32-18 with 2:30 left in the period. Covenant would go into the locker room up 35-22.
Bowman began the second half with a basket as the Scots took their largest lead of the night at 37-22. But, much like Saturday when the Scots lost a 17-point second half lead and then the game to Florida Christian, Sewanee would rally.
Sewanee tied the game at 44-44 on a Tyler Brown 3-pointer as the Tigers outscored the Scots 22-7 over a 10 minute span. Each team then traded baskets until the score was tied at 50 apiece with under two minutes left in regulation.
Both teams had multiple chances to break the tie within the final two minutes. DeVries rebounded a Nilan Hodge miss with 20.6 seconds left and called timeout. After a second Covenant timeout, Rosbie Mutcherson took a contested jumper from the free-throw line as time was winding down, but the shot was off the mark and the game was sent to overtime.
In overtime, McGriff scored Covenant's first six points but Sewanee answered back each time. Sewanee's Lewis Affronti gave the Tigers a 57-56 lead with a 3-pointer with 1:50 remaining. Covenant responded quickly as Cox managed to drive the lane and get a tough layup to fall giving the Scots a 58-57 lead.
After a Sewanee turnover, McGriff missed a 3-point attempt with the shot clock about to expire. DeVries wrestled the rebound away from a Sewanee defender and made a layup to put the Scots up 60-57 with 53 seconds left. DeVries then made two free-throws on Covenant's next possession followed by a quick layup from Sewanee's Brown to make it 62-59 in favor of the Scots with 18 seconds to go.
Sewanee forced a Covenant turnover, but the Tigers could not capitalize as the Scots forced Sewanee into a turnover as well. Covenant had a chance to secure the win at the free-throw line, but Bowman missed both shots leaving the door open for Sewanee with 10 seconds left. With time running out, Brown missed an open 3-pointer and DeVries snatched the rebound as the buzzer sounded.
Covenant shot 43.5 percent (20-46) for the game and finished 18-of-28 from the free-throw line. The Scots forced 26 Sewanee turnovers and turn those into 29 points. DeVries and Bowman each grabbed six rebounds, but Covenant was outrebounded 36-22 on the night.
Sewanee (8-7) was led by Brown's 11 points and eight rebounds. Brett Bouldin tallied nine points, while five other players scored six points. Sewanee was 21-of-44 from the floor (47.7 percent), 6-of-14 from 3-point territory, and 11-of-12 from the foul line.
Covenant will have a little more than a week off from competition. The Scots return to Barnes Physical Education Center on Wednesday, January 30 against Maryville. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.
