MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- The Covenant men's basketball team hung with Division I member Middle Tennessee before falling 76-57 in an exhibition inside the Murphy Center on Saturday.
The game was an exhibition for Covenant (3-1) as the Scots will take a three-game win streak into the next regular season contest. It was the second time this season the Scots have played an exhibition against a Division I foe (Samford, Dec. 1). MTSU goes to 2-3 on the year.
Covenant got within 10 (51-41) with 11:07 left in the game after a Walker Mathis layup, but MTSU used a quick 9-0 run to put the game out of reach.
Luke Touliatos scored 12 points to lead the Scots as he went 6-of-9 from the field, while Daevon Platt scored nine points and Will Crumly had seven points.
Covenant had a 3-2 lead after a Crumly 3-pointer with 16:39 left in the first half. Brady Palmer added a triple of his own two minutes later to give the lead back to the Scots at 6-5.
MTSU surged ahead as the Raiders used a 12-0 run over a three-minute stretch to take a 30-13 lead with five minutes left in the half. Covenant trimmed the deficit to 10 with a 7-0 run as Platt hit a 3-pointer before Chris Barnette converted a layup and two free throws from Crumly.
MTSU went into the half with a 35-22 lead.
In the second half, MTSU extended the lead to 16 early in the period but Covenant fought back once again. Mathis was a spark off the bench as he scored all six of his points in the second half, including a dunk and a layup, to trim the deficit to 10 with 11 minutes to go.
Jordan Davis scored a game-high 22 points, 17 of those in the second half, with seven rebounds and five steals for the host Blue Raiders. Dontrelle Shuler added 16 points and five rebounds. MTSU was held to only 33.8 percent (23-of-68) for the game, but used its size advantage to control the boards, 53-31, and scored 16 second-chance points.
Covenant made 33 percent (18-of-51) from the floor with eight 3-pointers. Jonathan Gernatt and Palmer added six points apiece.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GAME
UP NEXT
Covenant will break for Christmas before traveling to play NAIA member Asbury on Dec. 30 in Wilmore, Ky. For more schedule updates, visit athletics.covenant.edu
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