LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- The Covenant men's basketball team led for the final 36 minutes of the game and held off a second half rally from visiting Greensboro to take a 72-62 victory over the Pride on Saturday afternoon in USA South action.
Three players scored in double figures for Covenant (12-7, 9-3 USA South) led by a double-double from Will Crumly with 16 points and 10 rebounds. James Mitchell added 14 points and Daevon Platt had 12 points in the win.
Covenant is 7-0 inside Barnes PE Center this season.
After a sluggish start to the game, Covenant kicked it into gear over the final 16 minutes of the period. Platt scored all 12 of his points during a four-and-a-half minute stretch that saw the Scots take the lead for good. Platt drained two 3-pointers in the run and his mid-range jumper with 10:46 left gave Covenant its first double-digit lead of the game at 17-7.
Covenant led by as many as 14 (26-12) after a Zack Allen layup with 7:34 left in the period and the Scots shot 50 percent (12-of-24) in the half to go ahead 42-32 at the break.
Greensboro (11-8, 5-6 USA South) trailed 53-40 after a Crumly layup, but went on a 15-3 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Keyshawn Dorsey, to draw within 56-55 with 6:37 remaining.
The Scots clamped down defensively and limited the Pride to only two made field goals over the final six minutes of the contest. A Mitchell 3-pointer, his fourth of the day, gave Covenant a 66-60 lead with 2:41 remaining. The Scots iced the game at the free throw line in the final minute to secure the win.
Free throws and 3-pointers made the difference in the game. Covenant shot 19-of-21 at the foul line, while Greensboro made just 3-of-5, and the Scots hit 11 3-pointers to Greensboro's seven.
Allen, Chris Barnette, and Jared Jauch all had eight points for the Scots, while Barnette tallied five rebounds and Jauch dished out four assists. Jackson Fitzgerald led the Scots with five assists as Covenant totaled 15 assists on 21 made field goals.
Covenant shot 42 percent (21-of-50) from the field and held a 38-27 rebounding edge over the Pride.
Greensboro received a game-high 24 points from Matthew Brown. The Pride shot 41.9 percent (26-of-62) for the game.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GAME
UP NEXT
Covenant will host Maryville on Wednesday. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
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