LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- In a game that saw nine ties and 12 lead changes, it was a 15-2 scoring run over the final four minutes that lifted the Covenant men's basketball team to a 67-56 victory over Huntingdon in USA South action on Saturday inside Barnes PE Center.
The win brings the Scots' USA South mark to 5-5 and 6-13 overall. Huntingdon drops to 3-16 overall and 2-6 in league play.
Trailing 52-49 with 4:33 left in the second half, Covenant outscored the visiting Hawks 15-2 over the next four minutes to take a 64-54 lead and come away with the victory. A Colton McGriff 3-pointer, assisted by Will Portlock, with 3:40 left in regulation gave Covenant a 54-52 lead, one they would not relinquish. TJ Cox and Teron Ferguson each had six points during the stretch.
Ferguson tied a career-high with 13 points while narrowly missing a double-double with nine rebounds. McGriff came off the bench to score 11 points, while Cox tallied 10 points and dished out six assists. Chris Boyd collected seven rebounds and Portlock had seven points and three steals.
Bryant Engbers had nine first half points, but the teams were deadlocked at 26 at halftime. Both teams had trouble finding the bottom of the net in the opening 20 minutes with both shooting in the 30 percent range.
In the second half, Covenant heated up to shoot 45.8 percent in the period while Huntingdon connected on only 28.1 percent.
Dantavius Washington had 15 points and six rebounds for the Hawks who also received 11 points from Raheem Berry. Andre Ashley produced six points and a team-best eight rebounds. Huntingdon shot 31.7 percent (19-of-60) for the game, including a 6-of-28 effort from 3-point land.
Covenant shot 38.2 percent (21-of-55) and was 18-of-27 from the foul line. The Scots also held a 42-40 rebounding edge.
Covenant will be back in action on Wednesday against rival Maryville. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. on Lookout Mountain.
Be sure to follow the Scots all season long on athletics.covenant.edu and on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for up-to-date scores, news and other information.
