NOVEMBER 29– After a break from regular season action due to the Thanksgiving holiday, the Covenant men's basketball team finally returned to Barnes P.E. Center as they took on the Sewanee Tigers. This 7:00 PM matchup was the second between Covenant and Sewanee this season, with the Scots taking the first contest 77-67.
 
Following a tough three-game stretch for Covenant the road, the faceoff against the visiting Tigers provided an opportunity to get back in the win column. However, Covenant was unable to secure a second victory against Sewanee and picked up their sixth loss of the year in a 108-100 overtime defeat. 
 
The Scots were led offensively by a career high 51-point performance for senior forward Promise Igbanu, who also had nine rebounds and six assists to his credit. Freshman guard Malcolm Noel also had a strong offensive night as he piled up 17 points of his own along with eight assists. 
 
Not only did Igbanu notch a career high, the senior broke a 30-year old record of points scored in a single game. Previously held by Nathan Unruh, the old record was set on January 26, 1993 against Tennessee Wesleyan. On that date, Unruh scored 46 total points–– Igbanu beating that record by five. 
 
Unfortunately, Promise Igbanu's performance was not enough to push the Scots ahead. In addition, Sewanee's Russ Marr nearly matched Igbanu point-for-point, ending the night with 50 of his own.
 
The tip-off went in favor of Sewanee and so did the first scoring run, as the Tigers jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead. Both teams would continue to trade baskets, but it would be Sewanee who held a 21-15 lead ten minutes into the first half. 
 
Heading into halftime, the Scots still trailed by a score of 39-46 despite 18 first-half points for Igbanu along with four rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Freshman guard Luke Crowden also contributed six of his total 12 points in the opening half, as he finished the night 4-5 from three-point range. 
 
While Covenant may have entered the second half down by seven, it did not stay that way for long, as a pair of free throws from Malcolm Noel capped off a 7-0 run for the Scots that tied the game at 46-46. Covenant was not satisfied with a tie, however, earning their first lead of the night at 51-48 after an Igbanu three-pointer. 
 
With the changing of the lead, the game's momentum shifted on its head as Covenant's defense seemed impenetrable. Holding the Tigers to only 27.3% from the field in the first nine minutes of the second half, scoring became a much more difficult process for Sewanee. 
 
The Tigers were able to recover and close the scoring gap, tying the game at 62-62 at the ten-minute mark. From that point on, scoring was a back-and-forth affair, but as the game entered its final minute of regulation, Sewanee had managed to grab an 86-85 lead. 
 
With the clock winding down into its final 30 seconds, Igbanu drove to the right side of the basket. His initial attempt on a step-through layup was no good, but his tip-in that followed fell right through the net. The Scots held an 87-86 lead with 18 seconds remaining. 
 
Sewanee tied the game again at 87-87 by way of a free throw, but Covenant still had 9.9 seconds remaining to try and win the game. However, as regulation time expired the score remained 87-87 and the Scots were in for overtime.
 
Overtime began in favor of Sewanee, as the Tigers secured the first lead of the period at 89-87. The Tigers refused to relinquish control of the momentum or the lead, as they had extended their lead to nine with two minutes remaining. 
 
Despite Covenant's efforts, they were not able to reclaim the lead, falling by a score of 108-100. The loss brings their record on the season to 2-6 overall and 1-1 at home. 
 
UP NEXT
Covenant will take the court again on Friday, December 2, as they travel to Memphis, Tennessee. The road matchup against Rhodes will be a 7:00 PM game for the Scots' ninth game of the season. 
 
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.