Final Stats
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. --- In the final game of its four-game homestand, the Chattanooga men's basketball team fell to Alabama 82-63 Monday night. The loss drops UTC to 2-8 on the season while Alabama improves to 7-3.
Stephen McDowell led the Mocs in the contest with 15 points on 6-of-13 shooting. The senior also tied a career-high in assists with four and a season-high in steals with two.
Nicchaeus Doaks also scored in double-digits for the Mocs with 13. Doaks has now scored in double figures eight times this season. Chris Early, in the best game of his short career, had a season-best 13 points while going 5-of-12 from the field.
For Alabama, Alonzo Gee led all scorers with 20 points as the Crimson Tide had five players score in double figures.
The story of the game came down the Tide's hot shooting as Alabama shot 50.7 percent from the field in the to only 38.7 percent for UTC. A majority of the Mocs' struggles came from behind the three-point line as Chattanooga went only 8-for-30 from three for only 26.7 percent. From the charity stripe the Mocs were held to a season-low 10 attempts as the team went 7-of-10 from behind the free throw line.
In addition to stifling the Moc shooting, the Crimson Tide defense forced 15 Mocs' turnovers and had seven steals.
In the opening half the Mocs' shooting troubles were the story as UTC was only 9-of-28 from the field (32.1 percent), while Alabama shot 48.6 percent, as the Tide went into the half up 38-23. Chattanooga struggles from behind the three-point line aided in the Alabama lead, going only 5-of-19 from beyond the arc for 26.3 percent.
In the second half, the Crimson Tide picked up right where it left off, jumping out on a 7-0 run to extend the Alabama lead to 45-24. Justin Knox and Brandon Hollinger each had 10 points in the half as the two went a combined 9-of-14 from the field.
The Mocs will now get a few days of much needed rest before the team returns to court on Monday, Dec. 29 to play Tennessee Wesleyan in the first day of the Dr. Pepper Classic. Tip off is schedule for 8 p.m. from McKenzie Arena.
