SPARTANBURG, S.C.. --- The Chattanooga Mocs (11-16/6-8) fell 78-58 at Wofford (11-17/5-10) on Saturday night. UTC was as cold as the Terriers were hot on the snowy Saturday.
The Mocs managed just 33.3 percent shooting (18-54) from the field including 22.7 percent (5-22) from three-point range. Wofford on the other hand hit 51.9 percent (27-52) from the floor and 50.0 percent (11-22) from beyond the arc.
Z.
Mason (Nashville, Tenn) was the bright spot for Chattanooga. He scored 24 points and grabbed six rebounds on the night. Wofford’s Karl Cochran countered with a career-high 30 points to go with five rebounds, four assists and two blocks.
Behind Mason, UTC made it interesting early in the second half. Down 18 at the break, Mason led the charge scoring the squad’s first 10 points after intermission. He scored his 10 in four consecutive possessions to whittle the lead to 13, 50-37, on a baseline jumper with 16:16 to play.
He started and ended an 11-0 run that got the Mocs within nine, 50-41. Mason’s jumper at 14:51 came just 42 seconds after a strong take to the basket by Gee McGhee (Baton Rouge, La.) turning momentum squarely in Chattanooga’s favor.
But the Terriers did not wilt. Up 15, 66-51, with 7:06 left, their 12-3 run over the next 4:03 cemented the win. Aeris Smith made one of two free throws to put his team up 78-54 at the 3:03 mark. UTC scored the final four points for the 78-58 final tally.
McGhee had 13 points and a game-high seven rebounds for the Mocs. Wofford’s Jarell Byrd matched that effort with 13 and seven of his own off the bench.
Cochran 20 of his 30 points in the first half. After Casey Jones (New Orleans, La.) made it a seven-point affair, 28-21, with 6:26 left, Cochran and his mates closed strong. Wofford out-scored its visitors 17-6 over that final six-and-a-half to take a 45-27 lead into the break.
Chattanooga returns home this week for the final two contests in McKenzie Arena this season. Thursday brings UNCG to the Scenic City, while Elon visits on Saturday. UTC celebrates “Voice of the Mocs” Jim Reynolds’ 1,000 games behind the microphone on Thursday.