BIRMINGHAM -- The freshmen duo of Gee McGhee (17 points) and Farad Cobb (16 points) led Tennessee at Chattanooga to a 74-70 road win against Samford Saturday in Southern Conference play.
The Mocs, which held a 16-point lead in the first six minutes of the game at 22-6, held off the host Bulldogs which missed a potential game-winning 3-point shot in the final seconds.
"We came out unbelievably hot and went up by 16 In the first six minutes and it looked like we could take on the L.A. Clippers - the Clippers not the Lakers - but Samford came back strong," said UTC coach John Shulman.
"But to go on the road and win a close one is very satisfying. We as coaches told our players that toughness and discipline will win games."
Capturing its first SoCon road win in two seasons - last win was Feb. 26, 2011 at Samford 77-72 (OT) - UTC has now won four of the last five contests to improve to 6-9 overall an 1-1 in the SoCon.
After the Mocs led 32-31 at intermission, the teams traded holding the second half lead until a Z. Mason turn around jumper at 13:01 gave the Mocs the lead for good at 53-51 at 13:01. Mason finished with 15 points.
"We all know where our bread is buttered and that is with No.30 (Z. Mason) down on the block," Shulman stated.
"With this win I can go to the Quarterback Club on Monday and maybe they'll feed me lunch."
History Repeats Itself: As they did a year ago, the Mocs won the Dr. Pepper Classic, then lost a road game (Ga. Tech, Jan. 2) to a major conference opponent and now have won the first SoCon game in January.
A year ago, the Mocs won the Dr. Pepper Classic, lost at Tennessee (Jan.2) and then reeled off three straight SoCon wins at home in early January.
Two Wins to Pass Coach Shumate: Coach John Shulman (8th season, 138-136) is closing in on passing a pair of UTC hardwood legends in the same season ... With the Dr.Pepper Classic opening round win against High Point (N.C.) on Dec. 29, Shulman had his 136th career win to pass the late Murray Arnold (6 yrs., 135-46) ... now Shulman needs two victories to pass coach Ron Shumate at 139-61 in seven seasons.
Next Game: Mocs are at The Citadel (Jan.10) and at College of Charleston (Jan.12) before home games with Appalachian State and Western Carolina, Jan. 17-19. .
CHATTANOOGA 74, SAMFORD 70
CHATTANOOGA (6-9, 1-1 SoCon)
McGHEE, Gee 4-7 6-8 17; MASON, Z. 7-9 3-4 17; COBB, Farad 6-14 1-2 16;
BAREIKA, Martynas 3-4 0-0 9; WATSON, Sam 2-2 1-2 5; WHITE, Ronrico 1-3 2-2
4; ZLOVARIC, Drazen 2-3 0-0 4; BRYANT, Jared 1-2 0-0 2; ROBERTSON, Eric 0-1
0-0 0; BRAN, Alex 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-45 13-18 74.
SAMFORD (3-12, 1-1 SoCon)
KELLY, Raijon 9-15 3-4 27; WILLIAMS, Tim 7-8 4-5 18; WILSON, Russell 2-2 2-2
6; GEFFRARD, JR., Clide 1-12 3-4 6; MILLER, Connor 2-5 0-0 6; COOK, Will 2-5
0-1 4; BECKHAM, Jaylen 1-1 0-0 2; HAYMAN, Brandon 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 24-48
13-18 70.
Chattanooga................... 39 35 - 74
Samford....................... 38 32 - 70
3-point goals--Chattanooga 9-17 (BAREIKA, Martynas 3-3; COBB, Farad 3-6;
McGHEE, Gee 3-4; WHITE, Ronrico 0-2; ROBERTSON, Eric 0-1; MASON, Z. 0-1),
Samford 9-21 (KELLY, Raijon 6-8; MILLER, Connor 2-4; GEFFRARD, JR., Clide
1-7; COOK, Will 0-2). Fouled out--Chattanooga-None, Samford-None.
Rebounds--Chattanooga 30 (BAREIKA, Martynas 8), Samford 17 (WILLIAMS, Tim
6). Assists--Chattanooga 20 (WHITE, Ronrico 6), Samford 14 (WILSON, Russell
5). Total fouls--Chattanooga 17, Samford 14. Technical
fouls--Chattanooga-None, Samford-None. A-1127
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net