From Emory University Athletics
Senior Alex Foster scored a game-high 24 points and
the Emory men's basketball team used a strong second-half effort in
earning a road victory at Covenant College Wednesday evening. The
No. 9-ranked Eagles captured their third straight win and boosted
their record to 7-1 following a 72-59 decision over the Scots who
slipped to 1-7.
Foster sank six-of-12 from the floor, including three three-point
field goals in six attempts, and knocked down nine-of-10 from the
charity stripe en route to his eighth double-figure scoring effort
of the season and sixth of 20 more points. Junior Will
Trawick chipped in 11 points in the win, his fifth
double-digit outing of the season.
Covenant outshot the Eagles from the floor, connecting on 42.6
percent (23-of-54) of its opportunities while Emory finished with a
40.9 percent (18-of-44) showing. Emory did finish with
decided advantages in both three-point shooting, connecting on 40
percent (8-of-20) vs. the Scots' 26.7 percent (4-of-15), and free
throw shooting where it was successful on a season-high 28-of-33
compared to Covenant's 9-of-12. The Eagles enjoyed a 36-26 bulge in
rebounding with sophomore Jonathan Terry leading the
squad in that category with a career-high 11 caroms.
Emory outpointed the hosts by a 39-23 margin over the final 20
minutes of action, limiting Covenant to just 31.0 percent (9-of-29)
from the floor, including one-of-10 from beyond the arc. The
Scots held a 45-43 lead with 15:04 remaining following a bucket by
Colton McGriff, who led the CC scoring effort with 14 points, but
the Eagles responded and took control of the game with a 22-4 blitz
that gave them a 65-49 advantage with 7:23 left on the clock. Six
different players scored for Emory in that decisive stretch
including sophomore Jim Gordon who notched all five of
his points and freshman Whit Rapp who sank five free
throws. The Scots did manage to draw to within 10 points, but
Foster went four-of-four from the charity stripe over the final
1:55 of the contest to help seal the outcome.
Covenant shot 56 percent (14-of-25) from the field in the opening
half of play and used strong effort over the final seven minutes of
the stanza in taking a 36-33 lead into halftime. Emory hit
41.7 percent (10-of-24) from the floor, including 36.4 percent
(4-of-11) from beyond the arc, during the opening 20 minutes and
was paced offensively by Foster's 15 points. Foster was successful
on five-of-seven from the field and knocked down three triples in
five attempts. Emory held a 20-15 lead with 8:56 left in the half
before a 12-4 spurt by the Scots, with five points coming from Ryan
Burns, gave Covenant a 27-24 advantage. The Scots built a
five-point cushion, 33-28, before a pair of free throws
by Davis Rao, followed by a three pointer by Foster knotted
the score with 48 ticks left on the clock. The Scots snapped the
deadlock when TJ Cox converted a three-point play with 29 seconds
left.