February 16, 2008

 

                Dayton, TN—There are some rivalries that can determine a season’s success with one game. Win and the season is a success, lose and the entire season is a failure. Yankees-RedSox, Duke-North Carolina, Bryan-Covenant: The rivalry between the two small colleges is as heated and historic as any big-time rivalry in the country. Both Bryan and Covenant own the bottom two spots in the conference standings, but a win or loss in the rivalry and the season’s bragging rights could switch hands. Bryan won the first contest on the road at Covenant on January 15, but the Scots were looking to even the score Saturday night as they arrived at Summers Gymnasium.

                Bryan used balanced offensive scoring in the first half to jump out to a 33-26 halftime lead. The Lions shot 43% from the floor in the first half, and held Covenant to 37%. Bryan was led offensively by Cody Christopher who had 7 first half points, and Mike Lytle who had 5 points and 6 rebounds. Covenant was paced in the first half by senior PG Dan Nielson, the reigning AAC Player of the Week who had 9 points.

                The Lions continued to impose their will on the visiting team, holding the edge in nearly every offensive statistical category. Charlie Lytle had a big 2^nd half to lead the Lions to victory, finishing with 14 points and 7 rebounds. Christopher finished with 10 points and 2 boards, while Mike Lytle had a double-double, finishing with 13 and 10. Nielson finished with 20 points for the Scots, but in the end the Lions’ lead was too much for Covenant to overcome as they fell to Bryan for the second straight time, 68-57.

The win improved the Lions’ record to 10-17(4-12 in AAC Competition). Next up for the Lions is a contest at home against AAC foe Union College in the Lions’ last home matchup of the season.