NOTES/QUOTES 

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (November 17, 2024) – Playing its fourth road game in the first five games of the season, the Chattanooga Mocs men's basketball team used a full team effort to escape with an 87-82 victory at SEMO on Sunday afternoon inside the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
 
Despite leading for a commanding 33:23 of game time, Chattanooga (2-3) and SEMO (1-3) went back-and-forth with eight ties and six lead changes throughout the contest. Tied 45-45 at the break, the Mocs created separation with an 8-0 scoring run in the early-middle moments of the second half before holding off the host Redhawks down the stretch.
 
Noah Melson (15) led all UTC scorers after knocking down four threes in 20 minutes of action off the bench. Sean Cusano (14), Trey Bonham (13), Garrison Keeslar (13) and Bash Wieland (12) all joined Melson in double figures. The Mocs reserves accounted for 39 of the team's 87 points (44.8%) and earned a 39-6 advantage in that category.

RECORDS/SERIES – Chattanooga 2-3 · SEMO 1-3 · Fourth Meeting · The all-time series is now tied 2-2.
 
GAME FLOW/INSIDE THE BOX
1H 17:48 – Garrison Keeslar scored five quick points with a three and a back-down layup to give UTC an early 7-2 lead.
1H 15:32 – Sean Cusano buried a corner three off a Keeslar feed to put the Mocs up 12-7.
1H 13:34 – Noah Melson joined in the three-point party with a corner triple, preserving a 15-11 lead.
1H 10:47 – Bash Wieland converted one of two free throws after an intentional foul on the Redhawks to make it 19-14.
1H 9:50 – A successful and-one from Jack Kostel gave UTC its largest lead of the game in the early stages, 22-16.
1H 5:52 – After Trey Bonham put UTC ahead by five, 29-24, SEMO's Teddy Washington, Jr., hit a four-point play to make it a one-point game, 29-28.
1H 2:34 – A rapid scoring pace picked up as Cusano's second three of the half forced a SEMO timeout with UTC leading 40-34.
1H 0:24 – Rob Martin (SEMO) hit a pull-up jumper to tie the game ahead of the halftime break.

HALF – Chattanooga 45, SEMO 45: Chattanooga shot an efficient 53.3% (16-of-30) from the floor including a 63.6% (7-of-11) mark from deep; SEMO was even more efficient from the field at 59.4% (19-of-32); 24 bench points from UTC in the half.
 
2H 15:56 – The frantic pace continued in the opening minutes of the second half as the two teams remained locked, 54-54, at the under 16 media.
2H 12:42 – Chattanooga built a six-point lead, 62-56, on the help of Melson's fourth triple of the game.
2H 9:51 – Four-straight points from Cusano, which included a driving slam, put UTC ahead by double digits, 68-58.
2H 6:24 – SEMO chipped away at its deficit and cut it to four, 70-66, on another pull-up jumper from Martin.
2H 3:54 – The separation was just five points, 76-71, during a cold 2-of-10 FG stretch from UTC.
2H 1:17 – Martin (SEMO) struck again for the Redhawks with a big-time three, pulling the hosts within two, 80-78.
2H 0:03 – Kostel sealed the 87-82 victory with a pair of free throws as the clock showed just three seconds.

FINAL – Chattanooga 87, SEMO 82
 
KEY NOTES | MORE
- Chattanooga posted an efficient 48.3% (28-58) total from the floor… shot 34.6% (9-26) from deep… back-to-back games with nine 3PTM… held SEMO to a 36.8% (14-38) FG clip in the second half including a 3-16 (18.8%) mark from three.
 
- UTC outscored the Redhawks by a whopping 39-6 margin in points off the bench… the Mocs led the contest for 33:23 while SEMO led for just 2:59… eight ties and six lead changes throughout the game.

- Chattanooga shot 71.0% (22-31) from the free-throw line after drawing a season-high 24 fouls from the Redhawks… season-high FTA (31)… most in a non-overtime game since 31 against Samford in the SoCon quarterfinals on March 4, 2023.

POSTGAME QUOTES | MORE
G Noah Melson on what worked tonight.
"My teammates really put me in great positions to make plays and find open shots. We've been working a lot together to move the ball and create for others. We know when we share the ball, create for each other, pay attention to detail, it really makes the offense click."
 
HC Dan Earl on overall thoughts after 87-82 win at SEMO.
"I thought today was a total team effort across the board. Credit to SEMO, they play extremely hard and really try to out physical you. I thought we did a well enough job in matching that effort to win obviously, but there's still some areas we need to improve. What stood out today was that we did a really good job at getting to the rim, getting downhill, and getting fouled. Sure, we could have made a few more free throws down the stretch to make things a little less stressful, but when you get to the free-throw line 31 times, it speaks to aggression. Overall, I'm proud of the guys for really earning that win today. It's never easy on the road."

UP NEXT – Chattanooga vs. Johnson (TN) – Thursday, Nov. 21 – 7 p.m. ET – ESPN+ – McKenzie Arena
 
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