DEMOREST, Ga. -- Zack Allen scored a career-high 18 points and the Covenant men's basketball team used a big run in the first half to take the lead for good in a 70-49 victory at Piedmont on Wednesday night inside Cave Arena.
Allen led three Covenant (7-4, 4-0 USA South) players in double-figure scoring with his 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting with four 3-pointers. Will Crumly totaled 14 points and seven rebounds, while Chris Barnette added 12 points with seven assists and four rebounds.
The win was Covenant's 11th straight USA South road win, dating back to the beginning of the 2018-19 season.
Covenant used a 30-12 run over an 11-minute stretch in the first half to erase an early deficit and take the lead for good. Down 13-8, the Scots would hit 11 of their next 15 shots, including five 3-pointers, to outscore Piedmont 30-12 and take a 38-25 lead with 1:51 left in the first half. Crumly had 10 points during the run and Covenant took a 38-29 lead into the break.
In the second half, Covenant expanded the lead as the Scots limited Piedmont to only 28.6 percent (8-of-28) shooting in the period.
After Piedmont sliced the Covenant lead to nine (50-41) with 14:16 left, the Scots put together another run to pull away. Covenant used a 10-0 run, capped by an Allen layup off a no-look pass from Noah Oetjen, to take a 61-41 lead with under 10 minutes remaining.
James Mitchell hit three 3-pointers on the night and moved into second place all-time in Covenant program history in triples made with 230. Mitchell finished with nine points and three rebounds in the win.
Promise Igbanu added six points and three rebounds off the bench, while Jared Jauch had five assists and four rebounds for the Scots.
Covenant connected on 50 percent (26-of-52) from the field with 11 3-pointers, while out-rebounding Piedmont 36-27.
Piedmont (7-6, 2-4 USA South) was led by Jordan Foote's 14 points and Orry Clements-Owens' 12 points. The host Lions shot 52 percent in the opening half, but settled for 39.6 percent (21-of-53) for the game and just 2-for-17 from deep.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NIGHT
UP NEXT
Covenant returns home to Barnes PE Center on Saturday to face LaGrange in a USA South contest. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.
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