Men's Basketball Courtesy of Covenant Athletics

Late Deininger 3-Pointer Lifts Covenant Over Piedmont

DEMOREST, Ga. - Covenant hit the road to take on Piedmont for its first conference away game. In a back-and-forth game, it was the Scots, thanks to a clutch 3-pointer from Adam Deininger in the final seconds, who came out on top with a narrow, yet very important victory. 

Final: Covenant 92, Piedmont 91
Records: Covenant (7-8, 2-2 CCS), Piedmont (9-8, 2-3 CCS)

FIRST HALF:

  • Behind two early triples from Deininger and Logan Patterson, Covenant jumped ahead 8-2. 
  • Piedmont raced back as a 3-pointer put the Lions ahead 11-9 just a few minutes later. 
  • A 7-0 run capped off by an inside basket from Patterson saw the Scots in front 17-13. 
  • The Scots kept riding the 3-pointer as Luuk Dusek and Deininger each made a shot from downtown to put the score at 23-15.
  • Piedmont used the free-throw line to draw closer before a triple with 9:01 remaining put it within four points at 30-26.
  • Later on a 7-0 run for the Lions gave them back the lead at 34-33.
  • The Scots and Lions started to trade baskets before a 3-pointer from Dusek followed by a jumper from Ethan Parker put Covenant ahead 43-38.
  • Piedmont didn't draw any closer than three points in the final three minutes as Covenant led 48-44 at the break.

SECOND HALF:

  • The Scots maintained the lead before a 3-pointer for Piedmont put it up one point with 14:30 remaining. 
  • An 8-0 run with five points from Dusek had Covenant feeling good with a 62-55 lead. 
  • A Deininger 3-pointer gave the Scots what would be their biggest lead of the night at 68-59.
  • Covenant struggled to get defensive stops for the next several minutes as a 7-0 run in less than one minute put Piedmont ahead 76-74.
  • The Scots once again responded as a triple from Patterson on the fast break and a free throw from Smith put them in front 81-78 with 4:30 left in the game. 
  • Covenant went scoreless the next two minutes while Piedmont scored eight consecutive points to take an 86-81 lead. 
  • Kaleb Lofton scored six huge points for Covenant down the stretch on three separate possessions to cut the Piedmont lead to one point with 18 seconds remaining. 
  • After Piedmont went 1-of-2 from the free-throw line, Deininger hit a step-back 3-pointer with three seconds left to give Covenant a 92-91 lead. 
  • A long floater attempt on the left side of the court to win the game for Piedmont rimmed out as the clock expired. 

GAME NOTES: 

  • Covenant moves to 18-19 all-time against Piedmont.
  • With a career-high 20 points on six made 3-pointers, Deininger led Covenant in scoring. 
  • Dusek was incredibly efficient, scoring 19 points and shooting 5-of-7 from downtown.
  • Patterson had another solid showing, scoring 15 points. 
  • Covenant was 52.5% (32-61) from the field and 48.4% (15-31) shooting 3-pointers while Piedmont was 47.8% (32-67) and 31.6% (6-19) in the same categories. 
  • Covenant left some points at the line, shooting 56.5% (13-23) while Piedmont was 72.4% (21-29). 
  • The Scots have won three road games in a row (Piedmont, Warren Wilson, Johnson and Wales). 

UP NEXT: Covenant has a week off before traveling to Maryville on January 28th. . 

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