LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- Joey Danek and Rosbie Mutcherson combined for 36 points, but three LaGrange players scored in double figures to lead the visiting Panthers to a 69-55 victory over Covenant on Wednesday night inside Barnes Physical Education Center.
Danek poured in 21 points and grabbed six rebounds, while Mutcherson had 15 points, including a perfect 3-of-3 from behind the 3-point line, in the loss. The Scots have dropped two straight games and stand at 1-3 on the year.
Colton McGriff scored six points and pulled down six rebounds off the bench, while Nate Frierson dished out a game-high five assists.
Patrick Dugger led LaGrange (4-1) with 12 points, two blocks, four assists, and four steals. Dustin Baxter added 11 points and Denzel Robinson tallied 10.
Covenant was able to slow down the Panthers who came into the contest averaging nearly 80 points a game, with six players scoring more than 10 points a contest. But LaGrange capitalized on its chances at the free-throw line. The Panthers took 31 free-throws, making 16, compared to Covenant's five attempts.
The Scots took a quick 6-2 lead in the first half with Danek's layup at the 18:28 mark. LaGrange would grab the lead for good on a Nick Mitchell jumper with 15:24 left in the half. The Panthers would go into halftime up 37-22.
Covenant was able to shrink its deficit to 10 points at 58-48 after a Sam Bowman layup with 6:19 remaining in the game. LaGrange answered by building its lead once again to as many as 16 points late in the contest.
LaGrange also got seven points and 10 rebounds from Marcus Vaughn, as the Panthers outrebounded the Scots 39-33. Covenant connected on 41.7 percent (25-60) from the field, while LaGrange made 45.3 percent (24-53).
Covenant returns to action on Saturday against Oglethorpe University at 4 p.m. The game is preceded by the women's basketball team taking on Oglethorpe at 2 p.m.