Maryville Takes Care of Covenant 77-55
MARYVILLE – A mid-term test featuring three games in four days? Maryville aced this assignment and has positioned itself at the head of the class.
The first-place Scots put on a first-half clinic before coasting to a 77-55 victory over Covenant here Tuesday night. Maryville led 48-28 at intermission after shooting 53 percent from the floor and going 7-of-13 from downtown.
"I was really happy with our first-half performance," Maryville head coach Raul Placeres said. "We played exceptional basketball, especially from the sense of making the extra pass and finding the open man. There were many times when some of our best shooters had a great look but made the extra pass because it was the right pass to make.
"We showed real dominance in that first half, holding them under 30 and scoring almost 50."
Logan Patterson was the first-half star. The sophomore southpaw scored all 13 of his career-high point total in that opening stanza, including a 3-of-3 showing from the 3-point line.
"What a great effort by Logan, giving us great juice off the bench in that first half," Placeres said. "That's what we have been looking for, another double-figure or close to double-figure scorer off the bench as a wing player.
"I was also happy to see it because he had a tremendous practice Monday. He shot it unbelievably well and it obviously translated into tonight."
Great Weekend of Play
Patterson helped the Scots complete a 3-0 homestand by averaging 7.7 points and making five of his six 3-point tries over the extended weekend. He's riding a streak of five straight games making a 3-point bucket, going 7-of-11 over that stretch and averaging 7.8 points.
Reed Kemp joined Patterson as the Maryville scoring co-leader, adding 13 after making 2-of-3 from downtown. The Scots finished the game 9-of-20 from long range.
R.J. Simmons tallied 11 points for his sixth consecutive game in double-figures – the team's longest active streak – and Jackson Garner and Daryl Rice both scored 10. Collin Smith contributed eight points and six boards; and Keith Williams earned his first collegiate start, scoring six points to go with six rebounds.
Placeres hoped this third game in the last four days would put his squad's depth on display.
"There have been a lot of distractions this past week," Placeres said. "The weather meant we didn't have the same routine. Games got moved, the schedule was condensed, classes were pushed back two hours – we've been all over the place. But the guys have managed and put on an exceptional performance tonight.
"Could we have played better in the second half? Of course. But that's because I'm being extremely picky after we held Covenant to 34 percent overall and 26 percent from three. I was happy to see us maintain the lead for the final 20 minutes."
Patterson's third 3-pointer of the first half gave Maryville its largest lead at 46-23 with 1:21 showing. A pair of Simmons free throws with one second left settled the score at 48-28 heading into the locker room.
Covenant narrowed the lead to 50-36 on consecutive 3-balls from Fisher Mitchell. But Garner knocked down a 3-pointer, Williams converted a layup and Kemp connected from just outside the lane and Maryville was back on top 57-36.
Hoback Joins Scoring Column
Three times over the last six minutes the Scots led by 23 points, and that was the high-water mark. First-year guard Nathan Hoback sent everyone home happy by sinking two free throws with 14 seconds remaining for his first collegiate points.
"I'm really happy for Nathan," Placeres said. "His first two points as a collegiate player, his first minutes. The guys love him because he's an outstanding teammate and a hard worker, and I was happy to see the Marion County product get his first two points."
Javi Rosell handed out a season-high eight assists, giving the first-year guard 32 against just seven turnovers for a ratio of 4.57. That would place him third in the country if he met the 3.0 assists per game minimum (currently 1.9). Daryl Rice leads the Collegiate Conference of the South in assist-to-turnover ratio and ranks 12th nationally at 3.08.
Garner and Kemp both swished a pair of 3-pointers. Garner last season finished his rookie campaign with 60 made threes, and with 45 thus far he's on pace for 62 in Year 2. Kemp has 49 and is on pace for 67.
Maryville with the win improved to 31-9 all-time against Covenant, including 17-4 at home. The Scots, winners of six in a row overall and 10 in a row at home – dating to last season – are idle until playing next Tuesday night at Piedmont. Maryville is 6-1 in the CCS and 14-5 overall.
"They have earned the day off Wednesday for sure," Placeres said. "We'll probably stay off our feet for a few days as we get ready for Piedmont next Tuesday night."
