ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. -- Josh Morrison scored 19 of his 25 points in the first half to lead North Carolina Wesleyan to an 86-63 victory over the Covenant men's basketball team on Friday night in USA South action.
The loss is the fifth consecutive for Covenant as its record drops to 6-10 overall and 1-4 inside the USA South. N.C. Wesleyan improves to 7-6 on the year and a perfect 2-0 in league competition.
Ben Phelps led the Scots with 14 points, including a 4-for-4 effort from behind the 3-point line, while Micah Turner and Daniel Garrett each registered 10 points. Garrett also collected six rebounds and two blocks on the night. Colton McGriff and Chris Boyd grabbed six boards apiece. Z Arima had three assists as Covenant dished out 14 assists on 24 made field goals.
The Scots tied a season-high with nine 3-pointers, on 18 attempts, but shot just 35.8 percent (24-of-67) overall from the field.
Turner got Covenant going on the first possession of the game by grabbing an offensive rebounds, on a Boyd miss, and making the putback giving the Scots a 2-0 edge. The Bishops would seize the lead for good a few minutes later on a 3-pointer by David Gurganus.
Covenant stayed within striking distance for most of the half until N.C. Wesleyan stretched the lead to 12 at 45-33. The Scots would end the half scoring the final three points, capped by a Teron Ferguson layup with 24 seconds.
N.C. Wesleyan began the second half on a 9-2 scoring run, finished off by a pair of free throws from Morrison, to extend the Bishops' lead to 54-38. The hosts would maintain a double digit advantage throughout the second period.
Morrison, the USA South's fourth leading scorer, was 9-of-14 from the field and grabbed six rebounds and dished out four assists to go along with his 25 points. Brandon Brown came off the bench to score 20 points on 9-of-9 shooting. Devontae Williams narrowly missed a double-double with eight points and nine rebounds. The Bishops shot 50.7 percent (34-of-67) with nine 3-pointers and outrebounded Covenant 45-36.
Covenant will look to snap its losing skid on Saturday when they travel to face William Peace in Raleigh, N.C. Game time is set for 4 p.m.
