The Chattanooga Mocs (11-17/6-9) opened cold and never recovered in a 94-68 loss to UNCG in McKenzie Arena Thursday night. UTC honored "Voice of the Mocs" Jim Reynolds throughout the game for his 1,000 Mocs basketball games called.
Nicholas Paulos was the story for UNCG. The sophomore from Salt Lake City, Utah paced a record-setting shooting night for the Spartans with 10 threes in 12 attempts for his career-high 30-point effort. The team also set record for three-pointers made (20) and assists (27).
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Mason (Nashville, Tenn.) led UTC with 21 points and eight rebounds. He combined with Gee McGhee (Baton Rouge, La.) and Ronrico White (Knoxville, Tenn.) for 46 of the Mocs’ 68 points. McGhee had 13, while White chipped in 12.
It was a six-point game, 25-19, with 7:10 to go in the first half after two White free throws. The Spartans went on a 22-8 run the rest of the half to take a 47-29 lead into intermission. The visitors were six-of-eight from three-point range during the spurt, while the good guys managed just 25 percent shooting (6-24) from the field in the opening 20 minutes.
Paulos powered his partners to open the second half. He hit six straight treys to build the lead to 28, 73-45, with 12:06 to play. The Mocs would get no closer than 24 the rest of the way before the horn sounded on the 94-68 loss.
Korey Van Dussen and Kelvin McNeil came off the bench for 11 and 10 points, respectively. McNeil tied Mason for game-high rebound honors with eight. David Williams and Trevis Simpson each scored 10 to lead the Spartans starters.
The loss dampens a phenomenal effort at the free throw line for UTC. It shot 75.8 percent as a team making 25 of 33 attempts. White, McGhee and Mason combined to shoot 23 of 27 (85.2%) with White sinking all eight.
The 20 three-pointers by UNCG are the most against the Mocs since Creighton hit 20 on February 19, 2005. It is the most ever hit in McKenzie Arena. The Spartans made 55.6 percent (20-36) on the night behind Paulos’ 10 of 12. He entered tonight making seven of 23 (30.4%) over his last five games.
Chattanooga concludes its home slate Saturday night with North Division leading Elon coming to town. Tipoff is slated for 7:45 p.m., on ESPN3.com. Listen to the exciting play-by-play from Reynolds on ESPN 105.1 the Zone in Chattanooga or online at GoMocs.com via MocsVision.