Backed by 14-point efforts from Will Portlock and Bailey Spragg, the Covenant men's basketball team completed a season sweep of USA South foe LaGrange with a 66-61 victory on the road on Saturday evening.
The win snaps a four-game losing streak for the Scots (8-9, 2-5 USA South). Covenant also defeated LaGrange 93-82 in overtime back on Jan. 6 and has won three straight games against the Panthers overall.
Covenant trailed by as much as eight points in the second half, but hung around before making a final push.
The Scots were down 61-56 with just under five minutes to go, but held LaGrange scoreless the rest of the way and would finish the game on a 10-0 run to seal the win. Back-to-back baskets from Will Portlock gave the Scots a 62-61 edge with 1:31 remaining and Covenant made 4-of-6 from the free throw line in the final minute.
Portlock and Bailey Spragg each had 14 points to lead Covenant. Portlock added three rebounds and three assists in his reserve role, while Spragg tallied seven rebounds and two assists. Caleb Haynes scored 13 points with six rebounds. Zack Allen, Patjo Twagirayezu and Berto Dryden had six points each.
Covenant made 56.1 percent (23-of-41) from the floor with six 3-pointers.
In the first half, LaGrange led by as many as 10 at 26-16 after a Justyn Olson layup. Covenant ended the half on an 11-2 run, capped by an Allen 3-pointer with 12 seconds left in the period, to slice the deficit to 28-27 entering halftime.
LaGrange (9-8, 2-4 USA South) received 16 points from Drew Vanderbrook in the loss. Alex Bonner scored 11 points and Olson and Michael McCauley had nine points each. McCauley had a team-high seven rebounds. The Panthers shot 51 percent (25-of-49) for the game, but were hampered by a 4-for-15 effort at the free throw line.
UP NEXT
Covenant hosts North Carolina Wesleyan on Friday, Jan. 27 at 5:30 p.m. inside Barnes PE Center.