UTC Strong at Home - Defeats UAB, 83-67

Mocs are 6-1 at home

  • Monday, December 22, 2014
  • B.B. Branton

 "Our defense was good, offense was humming and we outrebounded them which is a good formula for success."

-- UTC coach Will Wade after the 83-67 win against UAB

 

 

UAB players were glad to see UTC miss the first three shots (in 1:38) of Monday’s game at McKenzie Arena, but were not thrilled with what happened the final 38:22.

Once the Mocs Justin Tuoyo slammed one home at 18:18 followed by Ronrico White’s first of three 3-pointers and a 5-0 lead the Mocs were off and running.

Runnin’ and gunnin’ their way to an 83-67 victory Monday at McKenzie Arena three days before Christmas.

The Mocs are now 6-1 at home this season (7-6 overall) and 18-3 in two seasons at home under coach Will Wade, while UAB fell to 4-8 in its first road game of the season.

Greg Pryor led the Mocs with 18 points, while White tallied 14 points and nine boards and Justin Tuoyo added 11 points, 12 boards and three blocks for his second doube-double of the season.

UAB was led by Robe Brown with 19, followed by Hakeem Baxter with 15.

The Mocs shot 45.6% from the field (26-57), while UAB shot 36.7% (22-60). The Mocs led the battle on the boards (41-36), more steals (6-5) and assists (12-9).

The win, the fourth in the last five games, snapped a four game win streak to UAB as the Blazers now hold a 10-3 series lead in the NCAA D-I era.

“We came into the game ready to go, locked in and we shot well and were attacking,” said UTC coach Will Wade.

“Our defense was good, our offense was humming and we outrebounded them which is a pretty good formula for success.”

First Half: After gaining the 5-0 lead, White’s 3 at 12:45 put the Mocs up by eight at 19-11 and extended that advantage to 15 at 31-16 at 7:51 on a Pryor layup.

Mocs led by 21 at half, 46-25 on a Pryor free throw.

2nd Half: UAB coach Jerod Haase decided to shake things up with a different starting five in the second half. Three starters - Denzel Collins, Jarvis Calhoun and Lionel love did not play in first half.

Mocs took their largest lead of the night at 54-28 (+26) at 17:19 on a pair of free throws by Marty Bareika, before the Blazers cut the lead to 15 at 65-50 (7:14) on a 3-pointer by Nick Norton.

When Norton completed a 3-point play a minute later, the lead was only nine (65-56).

UTC’s Pryor then made four free throws to push the lead to double figures at 13 (69-56) at 5:55.

“When they made the second half run to pull within nine, I got the guys together and said we had to play one possession at a time and keep them from getting out on transition,” said Pryor.

When Casey Jones made a layup and free throw at 1:51 the Mocs had outscored the visitors 15-3 for the lead of 21 (80-59) and the game ended with an 83-67 win by the Mocs.

Five Game Home Stand:

Dec.29 - Mocs host Lipscomb and then have three straight SoCon games - Furman, Wofford, Western Carolina in a six day span (Jan.3-5-8).

 Chattanooga 83, UAB 67

UAB 25 – 42 – 67

UTC 46 – 37 – 83

Records: UTC (7-6) UAB (4-8)

Stats:

 Points in the Paint: UTC, 32-26

Points off Turnovers: UAB, 25-10

2nd Chance Points: UAB, 18-17

Fast Break Points: UAB, 8-6

Bench Points: 31-23

Attendance: 2,609

contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net

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