In a rematch of last year's USA South Tournament championship, the Covenant men's basketball team rallied to force overtime and then powered past visiting LaGrange in the extra session for a 93-82 USA South victory on Friday evening at Barnes PE Center.
Covenant has won each of the last three overtime games with LaGrange, including last year's conference tournament championship game.
The Scots (7-5, 1-1 USA South) trailed by seven with just under three minutes left in regulation before rallying back.
Patjo Twagirayezu scored three of his 23 points on a 3-pointer with 2:40 remaining to draw Covenant to within four at 71-67. After a defensive stop, Z Arima made a driving layup to cut the deficit to two and Twagirayezu tied it on the ensuing possession with a layup of his own with 1:43 left.
Free throw shooting came into play over the next few possessions as the teams traded fouls, but both teams connected on all attempts. Two free throws from Bailey Spragg, after Arima blocked a jumper by LaGrange's Justyn Olson, gave Covenant a 77-75 lead with 19 seconds left. But LaGrange would respond as Olson drove the lane and dished to Drew Vanderbrook who made the layup to knot the score at 77 with four seconds left.
Neither team got off a shot in the final seconds to send the game into overtime.
In the overtime, it was all Covenant. Caleb Haynes scored seven of his career-high 16 points in the overtime session and the Scots scored the first nine points overall to build an 86-77 lead with 1:54 left. Covenant made 8-of-9 at the foul line in overtime to seal the win.
Berto Dryden and Twagirayezu each had 23 points to lead Covenant. Dryden's 23 is a career-high as he was an impressive 12-of-12 at the free throw line and also dished out a career-high tying seven assists. Twagirayezu added six rebounds and three steals to his 23-point effort.
Z Arima scored in double figures for the eighth straight game as he had 15 points, four steals and the one crucial block in the final seconds of regulation. Haynes, the reigning USA South Rookie of the Week, had five rebounds and three assists with his 16 points. Spragg narrowly missed a double-double with eight points, nine rebounds, three assists and five steals.
Covenant shot a season-best 56.4 percent (31-of-55) from the field and finished 28-of-36 at the foul line. The Scots had 17 assists on those 31 made field goals.
Olson was held to just four points late into the second half before emerging late to finish with 15 points and five assists for LaGrange (7-6, 0-2 USA South). Vanderbrook had 16 points to lead the Panthers. Alex Bonner added 14 points and Jamison McCray 13 in the loss, LaGrange's fourth straight. The Panthers finished shooting 48.6 percent (35-of-72) for the game.
Covenant hosts USA South foe Huntingdon on Saturday at 4 p.m. inside Barnes PE Center.
For a second straight game the Covenant women's basketball found itself trailing by double-digits in the second half. Like Tuesday night at Sewanee, the Scots put on a late rally but this time could not overcome the opponent as Piedmont held on for a 59-54 USA South win on Friday afternoon inside Barnes PE Center.
Covenant (6-5, 0-1 USA South) trailed by 15 at 54-39 with 5:22 left in the fourth quarter, but would go on a 13-2 run over the next four-plus minutes to slice the deficit to 56-52 with 1:05 remaining. Bekah Walter had five points during the stretch, while Rachel Price and Aleigha Williams had two baskets apiece to fuel the rally.
But Piedmont's Dakota Sullens had the answer as she connected on a layup with 37 seconds left to bring the visiting Lions' lead to 58-52 and Piedmont would hold on from there to get the win.
Emma Grimes recorded her first career double-double at Covenant with 11 points and 10 rebounds with three assists and a steal. Williams led the Scots with 12 points to go along with six rebounds. Kaley Hallmark added 10 points and two assists. All four of Price's points on the afternoon came in the fourth quarter rally as she also tallied eight rebounds and three steals. All five of Walter's points in the game also came in the fourth quarter.
Piedmont (9-4, 2-0 USA South) jumped on Covenant early and led 14-7 at the 5:10 mark of the first period. The Lions extended that lead to 20-11 at the end of the first quarter. Both teams struggled to shoot the ball in the second quarter as Piedmont made just 30.8 percent and Covenant 35.7 percent from the field, but the Lions held a double-digit lead of 33-23 at the half.
Covenant scored the first six points of the third quarter to trim the deficit to 33-29. Piedmont answered by scoring the next 10 points to build the double-digit lead once again at 43-29. The Lions led 47-35 entering the fourth.
Piedmont was led by Carlie Shields and Sullens who each had 16 points. Amari Price had eight points and four steals, while Brianna Barrett had a game-high five assists to go with six steals and six points. The Lions shot 42.6 percent (23-of-54) from the floor, but were just 1-for-15 from beyond the 3-point line.
Covenant held a sizeable 41-26 rebounding edge, with 16 offensive boards. The Scots made 41.8 percent (23-of-55) from the field.
UP NEXT
Covenant's game on Saturday vs. Salem has been postponed due to weather. No makeup date has been announced. The Scots will travel to Maryville on Tuesday for a 7:30 p.m. tip.