UTC’s Ronrico White is use to pre-game shoot arounds, but Wednesday’s “almost midnight madness practice” 14 hours prior to tipoff against Coastal Carolina was out of the ordinary but highly effective.
“My shooting touch was off (2 for 14 in the last three games) so Coach Wes Long called a shoot around for late last night and we made some adjustments in my technique and it paid off tonight,” said the Knoxville, Tenn. senior.
And it paid off in spades as White was 6 of 13 from the field, including 3 of 6 from beyond the arc, for a game-high 21 points as Chattanooga posted a well-deserved 78-67 win against visiting Coastal Carolina in the championship game of the Battle 4 Atlantis Midland tournament at McKenzie Arena.
Teammate Casey Jones contributed a double-double (20 points, 12 rebounds), while point guard Greg Pryor scored 15 points with two assists and three steals.
UTC improves to 3-3, while Coastal Carolina is 4-2.
The Chanticleers, who won the Big South a year ago, were led by Shivaughn Wiggins with 20 points, followed by Josh Cameron and Warren Gillis with 13 each.
Trailing 40-35 at half, the Mocs went on a 16-6 run in the first six minutes of the second half capped by White’s back-to-back 3s for a 51-46 advantage at 13:57 and were never headed.
“We were able to get stops in the second half and stops gets you out in transition and running,” said UTC coach Will Wade.
Best Game: “Tonight was the best game we have played this year and we are 3-0 at home, but you are not a very good team if you only win at home,” Coach Wade stated.
“Coastal Carolina is a very good team and could be the best mid-major team we play all year so this win was key for our guys after losing on the road at Tennessee Tech last Satuday.”
Victory Dinner: The UTC players and staff are celebrating Thanksgiving and today’s win by having a team dinner at The Chattanoogan Hotel.
“This will a two-plate buffet for me,” said a smiling Ronrico White during the post-game press conference.
By The Numbers: Ronrico White made a trio of 3s to give him 102 for a career ... and has 199 career assists ...
Good UTC Defense: Coastal Carolina came into the game with a 23.4 point average margin of victory.
Next Games: The Mocs travel to Kennesaw (Ga.) State Saturday at noon and return to McKenzie Arena Tuesday night to host Georgia.
Chattanooga 78, Coastal Carolina 67
Coastal Carolina 40 – 27 – 67
UTC 35 – 43 – 78
Records: UTC (3-3) Coastal Carolina (4-2)
Stats: Points in the Paint: Coastal Carolina, 36-26
Points off Turnovers: UTC, 22-13
2nd Chance Points: Coastal Carolina, 17-15
Fast Break Points: Coastal Carolina, 6-2
Points From the Bench: Coastal Carolina, 19-9
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net