CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.--- Ridge McKeither and Ty Patterson scored a combined 23 second half points to lead the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's basketball team over Western Carolina 80-67 Thursday night at McKenzie Arena. The Mocs came back from a seven-point halftime deficit to improve to 12-10 overall and 4-5 in the Southern Conference. The Catamounts fall to 16-5 and 6-3.
The Catamounts came into the night leading the Southern Conference North Division, but could not handle the second half post play of Chattanooga. McKeither posted 12 points and four rebounds in a second half surge that saw the Mocs take the period 51-31.
Getting the ball into the post was a clear priority in the second half as McKeither and Jeremy Saffore scored 12 of the team's first 16 points to start the half. And when they weren't scoring, they were getting the Catamounts into foul trouble. It was a three-point play from McKeither that gave the Mocs a 48-47 lead at the 12:32 mark. That play capped seven straight points from McKeither.
The Catamounts would not go quietly. A Brigham Waginger three-pointer at 8:03 gave the Cats the lead again, 55-53. But the Mocs, led by Patterson down the stretch would not be denied.
The inside play opened things up on the perimeter and Patterson hit two key three-pointers to help Chattanooga open up a 10-point lead, 75-65, with 2:29 to play. Patterson finished the game with 19 points and 10 rebounds for his second career double-double. McKeither had 15 points to go with five boards.
Mike Williams scored a game-high 20 points for the Catamounts, while Brandon Giles added 10 points and seven rebounds. Waginger chipped in 12 points and six rebounds.
The first half started well for the Mocs as a Jasper Williams three-pointer gave them a five-point lead at 15:13. The Catamounts roared back with a 15-0 run capped by a Kendall Russell layup at 11:39 off the fast break.
A Dante Harvey three-pointer at 8:51 ended a 6:22 second stretch without a point for the Mocs. UTC's
defense tightened up from there holding Western Carolina without a field goal for 8:22, closing within three points (26-23) before WCU took a 36-29 lead into the locker room.
Keegan Bell tossed in 10 points for the Mocs to go with six assists. Ricky Taylor scored 12 for his seventh straight game in double digits to go with a career-high three steals.
The Mocs will play their fifth game in 10 days Saturday night hosting Appalachian State at 7:30 p.m. The game is a part of a doubleheader following the Lady Mocs and Elon a 5 p.m.
Catch all of the Mocs' action on ESPN Radio 105.1 FM with the Voice of the Mocs, Jim Reynolds, providing play-by-play in his 30th season behind the microphone. Live stats, live video (selected games) and audio are also available on GoMocs.com.
GoMocs.com is the official website of the Chattanooga Mocs. The Mocs can also be followed on their official Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ChattanoogaMocs, or on Twitter, www.twitter.com/GoMocs.
