(Photo Credit: Dale Rutemeyer/GoMocs.com) Eric Robertson had a career-high 16 points as six Mocs top double digits in tonight's runaway win over Montreat
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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.---Chattanooga Mocs junior Eric Robertson scored a career-high 16 points in a 104-50 win over visiting Montreat College Monday night. Robertson led six Mocs in double digits on the night.
Robertson made six-of-nine from the field including four-of-six from 3pt range off the bench. Duke Ethridge added 14 points and seven rebounds, also in a reserve role. The Chattanooga bench scored 65 of the 104 and grabbed 27 of the 46 boards.
As a team, the Mocs shot season bests from the floor (55.3%) and behind the arc (52.6%). Those numbers did not shock coach Will Wade.
“It was good to have guys in double figures,” Wade stated. “It was good to shoot the ball well. We've been shooting the ball well in practice. To our guys credit, they spend a lot of time after practice working on it.
“Eric hit a bunch of threes tonight. He spends time working at it,” he continued. “After shoot-around today, he snuck back in the gym. We've been putting in the time, and we are a good shooting team. I think it is going to play out that way over the course of a year.
“We did some good things tonight and it is good that it showed up on the stat sheet.”
Greg Pryor made certain Robertson did not have the lone career night. His six steals is a new best for the sophomore, guiding the Mocs to a season-high 20. Melvin Irvin led the Cavaliers tying Robertson for game-high honors with 16.
It was all Mocs from the start. Ronrico White's three at 12:12 in the first half capped a 20-2 run building the lead to 24-4. Charles Smith-Perry narrowed the margin to 26-11, at 9:55, but that's as close as it would get.
Irvin's layup at 5:57 made it a 37-18 Mocs advantage, the last time the score was under 20. Robertson' trey with 43 seconds remaining in the half ended a 21-8 spurt to send the home team into intermission up 58-26.
Tre' McLean pushed the lead to 77-37 with a slick move for a layup with 12:52 to go. His lay-in a little more than 5:30 later increased it to 51, 91-40. Ethridge sent the Mocs over the century mark with a jumper at 2:33. K.J. Bates and Shaq Preston closed the scoring down the stretch in the 104-50 win.
Chattanooga topped season highs with 42 field goals made including 10 three-pointers. The trio of Robertson (4-6), White (4-4) and Pryor (2-2) combined to shoot 10-12 (83.3%) from beyond the arc. Pryor and White both had 12 points apiece, while Chuck Ester added 11 points and a game-high eight boards. McLean also posted 11 points.
“I think we were able to play some guys who haven't been able to play as much,” Wade added. “It is hard to get those guys in in the heat of battle. We were able to rest some of our guys who have been playing more. It is helpful in that it is hard to put some of those guys in if you don't know how they are going to react.”
The Mocs forced 28 turnovers while garnering the 20 steals. They scored 40 points off those 28 miscues. The larger, more athletic group also dominated the visitors in the paint 62-26.
Chattanooga opens Southern Conference play Thursday at The Citadel. Game time is 7 p.m., with links to video (SoCon Digital Network), audio (Mocs Sports Network) and live stats available on GoMocs.com. Follow @GoMocsMBB on Twitter for live updates.
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ABOUT CHATTANOOGA BASKETBALL
- The Mocs are by far the most successful program in the Southern Conference since joining the league in 1977-78. The team has won 28 titles with 10 regular season, 10 tournament and eight division.
- 15 NCAA Tournament Appearances: 1961 (DII), 1973 (DII), 1975 (DII), 1976 (DII Runner-up), 1977 (DII National Champs), 1981, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997 (Sweet 16), 2005, 2009
- 10 SoCon Tournament Crowns: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2005, 2009
- 10 SoCon Regular Season Championships: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
- 8 Division Titles: 1995, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2011
- The 1997 team went to the NCAA Sweet 16 with wins over Georgia and Illinois.
- 5 SoCon Players of the Year: Willie White (1981-82), Keith Nelson (1991-92), Tim Brooks (1992-93), Chad Copeland (1993-94) and Johnny Taylor (1996-97).
- 1 SoCon Defensive Player of the Year: Z. Mason (2014).
- 3 SoCon Coaches of the Year: Murray Arnold (1982, '83), Mack McCarthy (1986, '92, '93) and Will Wade (2014).
- 9 NBA Draft Picks: Walter “Moose” McGary (1973 & '74), William Gordon (1977), Wayne Golden (1977), Russ Schoene (1982), Nick Morken (1982), Willie White (1984), Gerald Wilkins (1985, 13 seasons) and Johnny Taylor (1997 1st Round).
