NOTES | QUOTES | PHOTOS
CHATTANOOGA (Nov. 19, 2023) – Despite leading for less than six total minutes, the Chattanooga Mocs men’s basketball team battled its way to a hard-fought 68-63 victory over in-state foe Tennessee Tech during non-conference action inside McKenzie Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Chattanooga is now 4-0 to start the 2023-24 campaign following the victory. UTC has now won six-straight in the series history and improved to 22-3 at home in its last 25 non-conference games. Tennessee Tech drops to 1-4 in the young season after the defeat.
A slow start aided by cold shooting and unforced miscues, Chattanooga battled and erased a deficit as big as 11 mid-way through the first half. The team continued to scratch and claw its way back and starting a season 4-0 is nothing to salt over.
“To be honest, I feel a little guilty addressing the team after wins. We’re 4-0 and there’s a lot of really good things, and you could be 0-4 and not playing sharp or crisp basketball, and we’re 4-0. I’m really proud of them for that,” said Earl following the game.
“We have something really good within the fiber of the team to pull some games out like this. I think we’ll continue to learn and grow from it, watch film, and just try to get better.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
A slow start for both teams, Jan Zidek tied things up at 6-6 just under four minutes in with a three before TTU grabbed a 12-8 lead at the 13:06 mark on a David Early turnaround jumper. The Golden Eagles went on an 11-2 run from that point over a four-plus minute stretch to build an 11-point lead, 23-12, with 7:55 left before half.
Tech continued to hold a multi-possession lead, 25-17 (4:45), as UTC struggled to knock down shots. Trailing 32-23, Chattanooga clawed its way back into the contest during the final minutes of the first half, scoring six of the final eight points, to head to the locker room down five, 34-29.
UTC shot just 37.0% (10-of-27) from the floor in the first half which included an 18.8% (3-of-16) mark from deep. Zidek accounted for all three deep balls while the rest of the team combined to go 0-of-11. Sam Alexis posted a double-double in the first half with 11 points and 11 rebounds in 14 minutes.
Chattanooga held Tech scoreless for a four-plus minute stretch in the early going of the second half and built a 7-0 scoring run on the help of five points from Alexis, tying the contest at 39-39 with 13:41 left. Honor Huff knocked down his first three of the game at the 9:28 mark to notch the game’s fifth tie at that point, 44-44.
Both teams went back-and-forth over the next few minutes with the largest separation being just four points in TTU’s favor, 54-50 (5:32). Huff found his stroke from deep and knocked down consecutive threes to put UTC back in front, 56-54, with 4:51 left in the game.
TTU notched its last lead of the game, 59-58, at the 2:59 mark before two Zidek free throws 18 seconds later gave UTC the lead for good down the stretch. The Golden Eagles kept it within one, 64-63 with just 0:26 remaining, before the Mocs recorded a defensive stop and converted all four of its free throws to claim the 68-63 victory.
RECORDS/SERIES – Chattanooga 4-0 · Tennessee Tech 1-4 · Series: TTU leads the all-time series 40-24. UTC has won six straight.
THREE KEY NOTES | MORE
1. The Mocs are now 34-9 in its last 43 non-conference games… 22-3 in last 25 non-conference games at home… Chattanooga led for just 5:48 during the win… trailed for 27:39.
2. UTC earned a 39-28 advantage in rebounds during the win… all four games this season with a +8 or better margin… three of four +10 or better… 15-7 since start of 2022-23 when outrebounding opponent.
3. Sam Alexis finished with a season-high 22 points and 15 rebounds while adding three blocks in 30 minutes of action… went 9-of-13 from the floor… posted 11 points and 11 rebounds in the first half alone in just 14 minutes… surpassed 200 career points.
QUOTABLE | MORE
G Honor Huff on knocking down first three at home.
“It feels like that ‘finally’ feeling. I hadn’t hit a three in the first two games, and being a shooter, going 0-for hurts. Being able to see one fall through felt great, it felt like I got the top off the lid and was able to hit more shots and open up my teammates. It boosted the team’s morale, and we went from there.”
HC Dan Earl on the growth of Sam Alexis.
“He’s improved in all facets. If you get to know him, he’s a wonderful young man, he’s got a great smile, he comes to work every day and he works hard. A lot of this stuff is coming at him fast. For him to handle the small successes, it’s huge for his consistency. The thing that I like the best is his rebounding effort night-in and night-out. He’s playing more controlled and that’s big for a sophomore. He’s going to continue to get better.”
NEXT UP – vs. Evansville – Friday, Nov. 24 – 2:00 p.m. ET – Chattanooga, Tenn. (McKenzie Arena) – ESPN+ – BUY TICKETS
FOLLOW CHATTANOOGA BASKETBALL
Follow @GoMocsMBB on Twitter & on Instagram for the most up-to-date information and news regarding Chattanooga men’s basketball.
GoMocs.com is the official website of the Chattanooga Mocs. Buy officially licensed gear in our online store. The Mocs can also be followed on their official Facebook page or on Twitter. Find out how to join the Mocs Club and support more than 300 student-athletes by clicking here.