RALEIGH, N.C. -- A 31-4 scoring run that stretched over a span of nine minutes between the first and second half propelled the Covenant men's basketball team to an 86-63 rout of William Peace on Saturday afternoon in USA South action at the Hermann Athletic Center.
The victory is the fourth straight for Covenant (12-8, 7-5 USA South) and completes a 3-0 week for the Scots. Covenant also remains unbeaten all-time against William Peace at 6-0.
Six players scored in double figures for Covenant led by Bailey Spragg's 18 points and nine rebounds. The well-balanced Scots also received five 3-pointers and 15 points from James Mitchell and 12 points apiece from Caleb Haynes, Will Crumly, and Nick Palmer. Haynes added four rebounds, while Crumly had five boards, and Palmer five rebounds and two assists. Berto Dryden also checked into double-digit scoring with 10 points to go along with four assists.
Jared Jauch had a game-high six assists as Covenant dished out 16 assists on 27 made field goals.
It was a tight contest for most of the first half, but Covenant began to seize control with under six minutes left before halftime. Leading 30-25, Covenant ended the half on an 18-2 run over the final 5:44 of the period to take a 48-27 lead into the break. Haynes had six points during the run and a 3-pointer by Mitchell followed by a Spragg layup near the end of the half capped the run and gave Covenant its largest lead of day to that point at 21.
The run continued into the second half as the Scots outscored the host Pacers 13-2 over the first three-plus minutes of the period to go ahead 61-29 after a Mitchell triple with 16:42 remaining. Covenant made five of its first seven shots in the half, including two treys from Mitchell, to extend the lead.
The lead would not dip below 22 points the rest of the game as Covenant cruised to the win. The Scots led by 32 on multiple occasions later in the half. Ryan Rhodes came on late in the contest and knocked down his first career 3-pointer giving the Scots an 84-53 lead with 3:40 left.
Covenant shot 52.9 percent (27-of-51) for the game with 11 3-pointers and a 21-of-26 effort at the foul line. Covenant also had a 38-28 edge on the boards.
William Peace (4-16, 2-9 USA South) got 14 points off the bench from Mikal Gaylord. Gaylord was the only Pacer in double figure scoring as William Peace was held to only 39.7 percent (23-of-58) shooting and 8-of-31 from beyond the 3-point line. Tyson Sellers had nine points and Trey Bryant grabbed seven rebounds for the Pacers in the loss.
UP NEXT
Covenant will look to make it five straight when the Scots travel to Berea on Wednesday. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.
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