CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga won for the fifth time in six games cruising to an 89-51 win over Montreat (4-7) Wednesday night.  The win propels UTC (7-6/3-0 SoCon) into the title game of the 21st Dr Pepper Classic.

Five Mocs scored in double digits, led by Troy Cage (Baton Rouge, La.) with a career-high 16 points to go with seven rebounds and three assists.  Jeff Smith (Chattanooga, Tenn.) also posted a new career high with 15 as the duo combined for 31 points off the bench.

Terrell Mosley and Giles Mack paced the Cavaliers with 11 points apiece.  Steve McBorrough grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds for Montreat.

The Mocs took control early jumping out to a 14-4 lead on a jumper by Chris Early (Huntington, W. Va.) with 16:47 to go in the first half.  Montreat scored five of the next seven points to cut the lead to 16-9 on a Cameron Hayes three-pointer at 13:22.

Chattanooga answered the trey with a 19-2 run over the next five minutes capped by two DeAntre Jefferson (Bloomington, Ill.) free throws at 8:04.  The lead rose to as many as 27 in the first half, 48-21, on two Dontay Hampton (Chattanooga, Tenn.) free throws at 2:51.  The Mocs settled for a 22-point cushion at the break, 51-29.

Leading by 20 (55-35), UTC rattled off 12-2 run to take a 30-point lead, 67-37, on a Smith three at 12:13. A 23-4 run soon followed capped by a Cage trey at 3:55 to go up 40, 84-44.  That led to the final of 89-51.

The Mocs won the battle of the boards for the seventh straight game out-rebounding the Cavaliers 50-45.  Jefferson had 10 for UTC, his third double-digit board game of the season.  All-in-all, five Mocs grabbed five or more rebounds for the third consecutive contest as Sam Watson (Knoxville, Tenn.) had six, while Early and Jahmal Burroughs (New Orleans, La.) had five each.

Omar Wattad (Johnson City, Tenn.) had 15 points, making four of six from three-point range.  Ricky Taylor (Brownsville, Tenn.) chipped in 13 for the Mocs, while Hampton recorded a career-best 11 points to go with three assists and two steals.

Bob Cousy Award candidate Keegan Bell (Hazel Green, Ala.) continued his strong play at the point with eight assists and three steals.  Jeremy Saffore (Nashville, Tenn.) tied a career high of his own with three blocks.

Chattanooga limited the Cavaliers to 25 percent (17-68) shooting from the floor and 23.5 percent (8-34) from three-point range.  It's the fifth time in the last six games the Mocs have held their opponent under 40 percent from the field.

In the first game of the night, Georgia State claimed a 30-point win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 72-42.  The Panthers jumped out to a 20-2 lead and never looked back.

Dante Curry came off the bench to hit six three-pointers in scoring a game-high 18 points for GSU.  Devonta White added 14 points and five assists.  The Islanders were paced by Demond Watt's nine points.  Justin Reynolds chipped in eight points and nine rebounds.

The Dr Pepper Classic continues Thursday night.  The consolation game features Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Montreat at 4:30 p.m. (E.S.T.), followed by Georgia State against the Mocs in the Championship contest at 7 p.m.  UTC has won 13 Dr Pepper Classic crowns including the last two.

Tickets can be purchased online at GoMocs.com ($4 with TRADITION promo code) or by calling 266-MOCS (6627).  Fans can access live video, audio and stats via Chattanooga All-Access on GoMocs.com.  The game will also be broadcast on the Mocs Sports Network on ESPN 105.1 FM in the Chattanooga area with the "Voice of the Mocs" Jim Reynolds.