Chattanooga Basketball Postgame Notes
Chattanooga at Tennessee State
Gentry Center Complex – Nashville, Tenn.
Tuesday – Dec. 22, 2020
TEAM
- The Chattanooga Mocs improved to 9-0, the best start to a season in school history, with today's 66-63 win at Tennessee State … the Tigers fell to 1-4 on the year.

- Only 9-0 team at the end of the game today … Drake (8-0) plays North Texas tonight at 7:00 p.m. (E.S.T.), while No. 22 Xavier (8-0) visits No. 13 Creighton tomorrow at 3:00 p.m.   

- Mocs trailed 54-41 with 9:45 left following a jumper by TSU's Yusuf Mohammed … largest second-half, comeback win for UTC since being down 14 at Troy (27-41, 19:50) in a 74-68 win last year … UTC also trailed by 13 in last year's win over TSU (59-57 – 11/9/19). 

- 35th meeting … UTC leads 22-13 … 6-8 in Nashville … fifth in a row … last loss was in Nashville, 86-75 on Dec. 5, 1994.

- Seven-game road winning streak ties the school record set Jan. 20, 1992-Nov. 27, 1992. The Mocs have won nine of the last 10 dating back to last season.

- Nine-game winning streak is the longest since nine from Jan. 11-Feb. 8, 2016.

- 11-game non-conference winning streak is a school record (DI era).

- UTC was 26-33 (78.8%) from the FT line … 5-11 from the stripe for Tennessee State … Stefan Kenic was 11-13, while Malachi Smith went 10-11 from the line … season-high for team makes and attempts … most since going 29/38 (76.3%) in an 87-85 (2OT) win at UNCG on Jan. 29, 2018.

- UTC only had eight assists on 17 FGs today … only second time this season with less than 10 assists in a game.

- Game featured seven ties and nine lead changes … TSU held the lead for almost 35 minutes of playing time.

- Only Malachi Smith (29) and Stefan Kenic (16) reached double-figures this season … first time this season a third scorer did not hit 10+ points.

INDIVIDUAL
Stefan Kenic – Sr.-F
- 16 points on 2-6 shooting, 1-3 from three and 11-13 FTs.
- Most FTs made since Donovann Toatley wen 11/12 vs. Western Carolina (01/31/19).
- Most FTs taken since Justin Tuoyo went 10/15 at The Citadel (02/27/17) 
- One off a season-high with six rebounds.
- Double figures in seven of nine games.
- Made last 15 FTs coming into today's game.

Malachi Smith – So.-G
- Career-high and game-high 29 points.
- 20 in the second half.
- Shot 9-20 from the field, 1-4 from three and 10-11 from the FT line.
- Game-high 13 rebounds … 10 on the defensive end.  
- Seven double-doubles in nine games … tied for most in the nation.
- Came into the game fifth nationally and first in the SoCon in defensive rebounds (9.5/gm).
- Came into the game 11th in the country and second in the league in rebounds (11.0/gm).
- Season-low one assists against five turnovers.