Chattanooga Basketball Postgame Notes
The Citadel at Chattanooga
McKenzie Arena – Chattanooga, Tenn.
Saturday – Dec. 13, 2021

TEAM
- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's basketball team scored a 70-66 Southern Conference win over The Citadel in McKenzie Arena this afternoon ... Mocs improve to 16-5 overall and 7-5 in league action with their fourth win in a row … Bulldogs dropped to 11-8 and 4-7 in SoCon action. 

- Most SoCon wins in a row since nine-straight Jan. 11 -Feb. 8, 2016.

- Junior KC Hankton and sophomore Malachi Smith led the Mocs with double-doubles.  Hankton posted 13 points and a team-high 11 boards, while Smith led UTC with 17 points and added 10 rebounds.  Senior Darius Banks was also in double-figures with 12 points.

- Mocs led by 13 in the first half (28-15 6:57) … outscored 19-8 to lead 36-34 at the half.   

- Trailed 47-42 following The Citadel's Fletcher Abee jumper with 14:38 to play … went on a 14-0 run led by a pair of A.J. Caldwell threes to take a 56-47 lead after a Malachi Smith layup at 11:29. 

- Resilient group has trailed in the second half in 13 of the 14 DI wins.

- Twenty-one days since the last time UTC played at home due to COVID-19 postponements and schedule changes. 

- Both Chattanooga (9-0) and The Citadel (7-0) went undefeated in non-conference and are coming off impressive Wednesday wins. The Mocs dominated Wofford in a 78-66 triumph, while the Bulldogs got past ETSU 79-71.

- 13-0 this season & 28-4 over last two when holding opponents below 70 points.

- Last three in five days home stand was Feb. 7-11, 2013. That group started with an 89-76 win over The Citadel before a narrow 71-68 loss to College of Charleston. It ended win a 62-59 OT victory over Samford.

- Shot a paltry 14-21 (66.7%) from the FT line by this team's standards … Mocs came into the game leading the SoCon in free throw percentage (78.7%).

- Outrebounded The Citadel 40-38 … tied for second-most boards this season [40 at Tennessee Tech (11/30) and 52 vs. Lander (11/25)] … most in a SoCon game this season … 8-1 this year when winning the battle on the boards.  

- UTC blocked a season-high six shots … two each from A.J. Caldwell and Darius Banks ... ties for most under Lamont Paris (VMI Dec. 12, 2018). 

- Mocs only turned the ball over eight times … eighth SoCon game with 10 or fewer turnovers … five in a row with less 11 or less … ironically, just the fourth win when giving up 10 or fewer turnovers.

- 13-4 in games decided by 10 points or less. 

- Seven of the eight Mocs who played had at least six points and two field goals. 

SERIES
- 87^th meeting.
- 68-19 overall.
- 37-6 at home … won 14 of last 15 at home.
- 64-16 in the SoCon regular season.
- 6-2 under Lamont Paris.
- 68 series wins is the most against any opponent.
- Won six of the last seven in the series … 14 of 17.
- 64 SoCon regular season triumphs are the most against any league opponent.

INDIVIDUAL
Darius Banks – Sr.-F
- 12 points on 3-7 shooting, 0-1 from three and 6-7 from the FT line.
- Double-figures in seven of eight games played.
- 27-31 (87.1%) from the FT line this season.
- Team-high three assists.
- Added a steal and two blocks.

KC Hankton – So.-F
- First career double-double with 13 points and 11 boards.
- Team-high in rebounding for the first time.
- Shot 5-12 from the floor, 3-4 from the FT line.
- Fourth game in double-figures this season.
- Added a steal in 24 minutes.

Malachi Smith – So.-G
- Team-high 17 points to go with 10 rebounds.
- Team-high ninth double-double of the season.
- Came into the game No. 17 in the NCAA in double-doubles
- Shot 6-15 from the field, 2-5 from three, 3-4 from the FT line.
- Team leader in scoring for the 10^th time. 
- 19 games in double-figures this season.
- Added an assist and two steals.