BOX SCORE | SEASON STATS | NIT BRACKET

CHATTANOOGA (March 22, 2025) – The March postseason run continues. The Chattanooga Mocs men's basketball team went wire-to-wire behind a dominating effort to help soar past top-seeded Dayton, 87-72, in front of a rowdy McKenzie Arena crowd during National Invitation Tournament (NIT) Second Round action on Saturday.  
 
Following the win, Chattanooga (26-9) advances to the NIT Quarterfinals for the first time since 1985 while its 26 wins this season ties for third-most in program history. Dayton (23-11) concludes its season after surrendering the most points (87) to an opponent since an 89-84 defeat to then No. 5 Iowa State during the Maui Invitational on November 26, 2024.
 
Chattanooga now awaits the winner of this afternoon's matchup of Bradley at George Mason. Site of the game to be determined.

Game Recap
The Chattanooga Mocs knocked off the Dayton Flyers 87-72 in McKenzie Arena Saturday afternoon in the second round of the National Invitational Tournament. Honor Huff (26) and Trey Bonham (25) combined to score 51 points in a game where the Mocs never trailed the No. 1 seed.
 
Chattanooga scored early and often in their first NIT home game since 1987. They led by nine, 73-64, at the final media timeout of the contest at 3:30. The second half lead grew to 15, 63-48, after taking an 8-point cushion (42-34) into the half.
 
A Nate Santos three coming out of that timeout cut the margin to six, 73-67. A couple of empty possessions went both ways before a foul sent Honor Huff to the free throw line. He made both to right the ship.
 
The Flyers missed a shot on the ensuing rebound, Dayton Coach Anthony Grant earned a technical foul in reaction to the scrum for the ball which led to Huff getting fouled again. Huff made three of four to grow the lead back to double digits, 78-67. The next trip down the floor, Huff provided the dagger with his fifth three of the game, making an 81-67 advantage at 1:38.

POSTGAME QUOTES | MORE
Dan Earl's opening statement after 87-72 win over Dayton.
"I'm really proud of the guys. That was a well played game, I thought, on both sides. Credit to Dayton, they're a really good basketball team. They make shots, they execute. they're tough and physical, and I thought we did a pretty good job of exceeding or matching their physicality. So, really proud of our guys."

Dan Earl on the impact of today's fans.
"Shout out to the crowd. I mean, I thought that was awesome. We really appreciate everybody coming out in full effect. That place, the McKenzie Arena, the Roundhouse got loud. I think our guys are appreciative, and I think they deserve it, but we are so thankful that everyone came out to support us. Hopefully we can keep it rolling."
 
RECORDS – Chattanooga: 26-9 | Dayton 23-11
 
INSIDE THE BOX – Chattanooga 87, Dayton 72
Scoring Leaders – UTC: 26-Honor Huff | UD: 18-Nate Santos
Rebounding Leaders – UTC: 8-Trey Bonham | UD: 6-Santos
Assist Leaders – UTC: 4-Bonham/Huff | UD: 7-Malachi Smith
Largest Leads – UTC: 15 (63-48, 8:35) | UD: N/A
Lead Changes: 0 | Times Tied: 0

• Stat of the Day: Mocs were +12 in points off turnovers (14-2) despite being just +1 (9-10) in turnover margin.
• Mocs got off to a hat start making 11 of their first 17 shots (64.7%). They led by as many as 11 (38-27) in the opening frame before heading into the half up eight, 42-34.
• The lead grew to 12, 53-41, when Collin Mulholland forced a Flyers timeout on a finger roll layup off a drive from the top of the key with 14:22 remaining.
• The largest lead, 63-48, came at 8:35 on a Jack Kostel triple. Javon Bennett immediately answered with a three for the Flyers who quickly called timeout with 8:25 to play.
• Shot 57.1 percent (28-40) for the contest.
• There were just 13 offensive rebounds in the contest – 4-Chattanooga & 9-Dayton – but the Mocs held a 6-3 advantage in second chance points.

 
NIT HISTORY

• 5th appearance but first since 1987. The program made four straight NITs from 1984-87. That was in the middle of the first eight DI postseasons for the Mocs going to the NCAA Tournament in 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1988.
• 5-4 all-time in the event.
• Second time in school history reaching the NIT Quarterfinals. The last was in 1985, a 71-66 tally at Louisville against a Cardinals team that won the 1986 NCAA Championship.

 
SERIES HISTORY
Meetings: 12
Record: 4-8
In Chattanooga: 1-1
Postseason: 1-0
Streak: +2
 
NOTES TO KNOW | MORE

• Wieland scored his 1,000th career point with his sixth point of the game on his soon-to-be patent turnaround jumper. He finished the day with 1,004. That includes his 473 as a Moc and 531 at Bellarmine where he was limited by injuries in 2019-20 and 2022-23 seasons.
• Garrison Keeslar did not score a point in his 33:22 minutes of action, HOWEVER, his presence led the Mocs to a game-high +19 plus/minus for game score while his was on the floor.
• Huff's 5-10 performance from beyond the arc marks his 10th game this season with five or more.
• Huff is 103-215 (47.9%) over his last 26 games averaging 3.96 makes per game.
• 14-3 at home this season. Most wins in the Roundhouse since a 15-2 mark in 2014-15. 13th season all-time with 14 or more home wins. Win No. 499 in McKenzie Arena.
• Won 14 of the last 15 games. 18-4 since the calendar shifted to 2025.
• 26 wins for the sixth time in school history. First since 27 in 2021-22 Southern Conference Championship campaign.
• 2nd straight win over an Atlantic 10 opponent? Last? Dec. 12, 2015…at Dayton. That was the electric 61-59 helping spur the school record 29-win season.
• 23rd postseason appearance in school history: NCAA DI (12) & DII (5) tournaments, NIT (5) and CIT (1).
• 41sr postseason contest.
• 19-22 all-time in the postseason: 5-4 NIT | 3-12 NCAA DI | 11-5 NCAA DII | 0-1 CIT.

 
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