STATESBORO, Ga. -- Playing its second Division I foe this season, the Covenant men's basketball team hung with Georgia Southern through the first half before falling 85-51 on Saturday afternoon inside Hanner Fieldhouse.

Covenant (6-2, 1-0 USA South) will be back into regular season play on Dec. 29 against Keene State in the Cregger Invitational, hosted by Roanoke in Salem, Va.

Will Crumly and Brady Palmer had 10 points apiece to lead the Scots, while Chris Barnette had six points and six rebounds. Promise Igbanu added eight points and four steals.

Covenant trailed by 13 at the half (40-27) as Palmer hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds of the period. After Georgia Southern built an 11-point lead midway through the first half, Palmer converted a conventional three-point play to get the Scots within 26-18 with 8:07 left in the half.

Georgia Southern (7-4), a member of the Sun Belt, pulled away in the second half to secure the regular season win. The host Eagles used a 17-0 run to break the game open midway through the second half.

Elijah McCadden and Kamari Brown each had 16 points for Georgia Southern. The Eagles were limited to 47.6 percent (30-of-63) from the field and hit 17-of-19 free throws.

Jesse Kinard had five points off the bench and all available Scots saw action. Covenant connected on 36.7 percent (18-of-49) for the game and 5-of-12 from 3-point land. The Scots also made 10-of-12 at the foul line.

UP NEXT

Covenant travels to Salem, Va., for the two-day Cregger Invitational, hosted by Roanoke College. The Scots face Keene State on Dec. 29 at 2 p.m.

CONNECT WITH THE SCOTS

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.