Chattanooga Basketball Postgame Notes
UNC Asheville at Chattanooga
McKenzie Arena – Chattanooga, Tenn.
Wednesday – Dec. 16, 2020

TEAM
- The Chattanooga Mocs improved to 7-0 for the first time since the 1974-75 season with a 69-66 win over UNC Asheville today.  The Bulldogs fell to 3-3 with the loss.

- The Mocs are 7-0 for the first time as a DI program (since 1977-78) and the fourth time in school history … 7-0 beginnings were all the rage from 1973-75 seasons with three in a row including the program-best 8-0 in 1973-74.
- Longest win streak for the Mocs since running off nine in a row Jan. 11-Feb. 8, 2016.

- UTC is 8-0 all-time against UNCA … 5-0 at home. 

- Junior A.J. Caldwell scored the go-ahead basket with five second left … sophomore Malachi Smith sealed the win with a steal and two FTs.

- UTC led 37-30 at the break … Ashville used an 11-2 run midway through the second to take a 55-48 lead with 9:30 left to play ... Bulldogs led 66-63 with 1:32 left. 

- Mocs got 30 points off the bench (Hankton 16, Doomes 14) … most against a DI opponent this season … most against a DI opponent since 39 against The Citadel last season. 

- Mocs were 9-19 (47.4%) from three … third game this season with 9+ threes … UNCA was 6-20. 

- Asheville controlled the paint, outrebounding the Mocs 37-33 and outscoring UTC 42-28.

- Asheville lead 21-13 with 8:11 left in the first half before the Mocs closed the frame on a 24-9 run. 

INDIVIDUAL
Josh Ayeni – Jr.-F
- Tied a season-high with four boards for the third time.

A.J. Caldwell – Jr.-G
- Go-ahead steal and layup with five seconds left.
- Tied for game-high with five assists.
- Eight points on 3-8 shooting, 2-4 from three.
- 10-16 (62.5%) from three last three games.
- Added three boards, two steals and a block.

Trey Doomes – Jr.-G
- 14 points in 27 minutes off the bench.
- Shot 5-9 from the field, 1-2 from three, and 3-4 from the line.
- Third game in double-figures this season, all off the bench.
- 25 points last two games.
- Season-high six rebounds.

KC Hankton -Jr.-F
- Led the team with 16 points in 21 minutes off the bench in his season debut.
- Took advantage of the NCAA blanket waiver that gave immediate eligibility to all transfers sitting out their year in residence.
- Shot 6-7 from the field, 3-4 from three and 1-2 from the FT line.
- Added eight boards, an assist and block.
- Collegiate career-highs for points and rebounds.
              - Most at Saint Louis were 11 points and six boards vs. Richmond (1/30/19).
- Second career game in double-figures.

Malachi Smith – So.-G
- 15 points on 6-13 shooting, 1-3 from three and 2-2 from the line.
- Game-high nine boards.
- Tied for game-high with five assists.
- Added two steals.
- Iced the game with a steal and two FTs with two seconds left.
- Led the team in rebounding every game.  

Jamaal Walker – Fr.-F
- 10 points on 3-7 shooting, 1-3 from three and 3-4 from the line.
- Second game in doubles figures … both in the last three.
- 31 points last three games … 10-10 (55.6%) from the field in that stretch.