KENNESAW, Ga. --- The Chattanooga Mocs (2-4) went on the
road for a 65-51 win at Kennesaw State (1-6) Saturday afternoon. UTC used a
strong first half offensively and a lockdown defensive second frame for the
win.
Z. Mason (Nashville, Tenn.) led four double-digit scorers
for the Mocs with 14 points, eight rebounds and a career-high four blocks. Gee
McGhee (Baton Rouge, La.) added 12 points for the day. Markeith Cummings had a
game-high 16 points for KSU. Aaron Anderson chipped in 10 points and seven
boards.
It was a four-point game, 21-17 UTC, with 8:20 left in
the first half when the Mocs took control. It out-scored the Owls 17-4 the rest
of the way with McGhee's 16-footer as time ticked away to end the half sent a
jubilant group of Mocs into the locker room up 38-21.
Drazen Zlovaric's (Novi Sad, Serbia) layup with 12:11
remaining put UTC up by 20, 44-24. Casey Jones (New Orleans, La.) and Farad
Cobb (West Palm Beach, Fla.) matched that lead almost four minutes later.
Jones hit the first of two free throws, but Mason hustled
for the offensive board on the miss keeping possession on the Mocs' end. He
found Cobb just to the right of the top of the key who nailed a three-pointer
for the four-point trip and a 51-31 lead.
It wasn't easy, however. Chattanooga had 18 of its 23
turnovers in the second half. Its defense was well, its defense. The Mocs
limited Kennesaw State to just 29.4 percent shooting after intermission including
a 0-13 effort from three-point range.
The Owls closed to a single-digit deficit, 59-51, with
1:37 left on two Jordan Montgomery free throws. But the Mocs stayed tough down
the stretch. Ronrico White (Knoxville, Tenn.) made five-of-six free throws to
cement the win.
White and Zlovaric scored 10 points apiece for the Mocs.
Zlovaric grabbed seven rebounds as UTC dominated the glass. It out-rebounded
the Owls 43-22 matching its season-best plus-21 margin (Tennessee Temple).
That was pronounced on the offensive end of the floor.
The Mocs grabbed 14 of its own misses while KSU managed just 12 defensive
rebounds. That amounted to an 18-4 advantage in second chance points.
Chattanooga returns home Saturday, December 1, opening
Southern Conference play. Defending champion Davidson visits for a 7:30 p.m.,
tip. It's a doubleheader with the Lady Mocs tackling Furman at 5 p.m. Tickets
are available on GoMocs.com or by calling 266-MOCS (6627).
Listen to all the exciting play-by-play from "Voice of
the Mocs" Jim Reynolds on ESPN 105.1 the Zone in Chattanooga, or world-wide on
GoMocs.com. MocsVision has the live video and audio action online and you can follow
@GoMocsMBB on twitter for news, notes, stats and links to game notes, live
stats and more.
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. Find out how to join the UTC Mocs Club and support more than 300
student-athletes by clicking
here.