SALEM, Va. -- Playing its first regular season game in 18 days, the Covenant men's basketball team led No. 10 Roanoke at the half before the host Maroons rallied for a 59-51 victory over the Scots on Wednesday in the opener of the Cregger Invitational.

Covenant (6-3) saw its two-game winning streak halted in the process.

Promise Igbanu scored a career-high 19 points to go with five rebounds and three steals for Covenant. Igbanu was 7-of-9 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free throw line in the loss.

Igbanu scored the first eight points for Covenant in the opening half. The Scots shot 50 percent from the field in the half and led 26-23 at the break. 

Covenant used an 11-3 run late in the first half to take a 26-19 advantage, its largest lead of the contest. Chris Barnette had six points during the stretch, including a driving layup that gave the Scots a seven-point lead with 51 seconds left in the half.

In the second half, Roanoke (8-2) surged ahead for good with a 12-0 run over a stretch of three minutes to grab a 43-32 lead with 9:31 remaining. 

Covenant sliced into the deficit and a Brady Palmer 3-pointer brought the Scots within 45-42 with 6:23 to go. Igbanu made a pair of free throws with 4:37 remaining that made it a 51-46 contest, but the Scots would not get closer than that the rest of the way.

Palmer finished with 11 points, while Will Crumly had nine points and nine rebounds. Barnette added seven points and seven rebounds. 

Covenant shot 38.3 percent (18-of-47) for the game. 

Roanoke received a game-high 30 points and 10 rebounds from Kasey Draper. Ethan Rohan added 13 rebounds and six points. Roanoke hit 41.1 percent (23-of-56) but only 2-of-18 from deep. 

UP NEXT

Covenant will take on Buena Vista on Thursday in the finale of the Cregger Invitational. Tip-off is set for 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.