Covenant pulled away in the second half to take an 80-70 USA South win over LaGrange on Saturday in Mariotti Gym. It was Senior Day for forward Kyle Brown and guard Bershard Edwards, who were recognized before the game.
Edwards led LC (10-10, 5-2 USA South) with 17 points, while Brown had 12 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Zac Hill had a double-double of 15 points and a tied his career high with a game high 12 rebounds. Gabe Cofield finished with 12 points.
Covenant (11-6, 6-2 USA South) avenged a 62-60 loss to the Panthers on Jan. 21. Will Crumly led the Scots with a double double of a game high 19 points and 10 rebounds. Promise Igbanu added 17 points.
Coach Kendal Wallace
"I can't say enough about our two seniors. Bershard and Kyle do a lot in the community and have their hands in a little of everything. You got to have a lot of respect for kids like Bershard and Kyle, who have worked really hard and made themselves examples for the our program and doing bright things for the program overall.
Covenant is a good team and hats off to them. They shot it real well today which they didn't do at their place. We turned it over quite a bit and didn't shoot well, especially in the second half. It was a tough ball game and I'm sure we'll see them again."
The Game
The Panthers controlled most of the first half. Brown's jumper capped an 8-0 run midway through the half to put LC up 10, 22-12. The Panthers matched the 10-point lead when Edwards drove the lane for a 28-18 lead with 3:41 remaining. Covenant closed out the half on a 10-2 run as LC held on to a 30-28 lead at halftime.
The Panthers kept the lead for six minutes into the second half. Brown's completed a three-point play and Edwards knocked down a jumper for a 41-38 lead. Covenant got back-to-back 3-point shots from Jonathan Gernatt and Jesse Kinard to take the lead for good, 44-41. The Scots hit 10-of-15 shots from beyond the arc in the game.
Camerin Lyons made a steal at the defensive end and the layup at the other end to get LC within five, 65-60, with five minutes left. The Panthers never got closer the rest of the way. Covenant shot 81.8% in the second half, including 6-of-8 shooting 3s.
The Panthers play at Huntingdon on Tuesday in a USA South game. Game time is 8:30 p.m.
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