Senior Eric Robertson scored a career-high 22 points leading the Chattanooga Mocs to a 73-60 win at UNCG. Robertson made a career-best seven 3pt as the Mocs improve to 17-3, 6-1 in first-place in the Southern Conference.
Justin Tuoyo added 18 points for the visitors, while Greg Pryor netted 10. Tre’ McLean and Chuck Ester had great all-around games with nine points, six rebounds and five assists apiece.
Francis Alonso had 19 to lead UNCG. Kayel Locke added 13 points, six boards and three assists.
The Mocs trailed 44-34 with 17:15 to go in the game after Diante Baldwin’s dunk off a turnover at midcourt capped a quick 7-0 run for the Spartans. The answer was swift by the visitors.
Back-to-back 3pt from Robertson and McLean followed a Tuoyo layup to cut it to two. That trio of baskets started a 16-2 spurt for the Mocs. The defense held UNCG to just one field goal over a nine-plus minute span to flip the score.
“We kept playing,” coach Matt McCall stated. “We didn’t lose focus. I knew eventually we’d make a run. Eric Robertson really got it going in the second half. He got some clean looks, and the ball was able to go in the basket.
“I really felt like, and the stat sheet doesn’t totally show it, but I thought Tre’ McLean played an all-around game – rebounding, assists, middle of the zone, making the right play.”
Kept playing they did. Chattanooga out-scored its hosts 39-16 after falling behind by 10. It is the largest deficit overcome this season and the seventh come-from-behind win overall.
“There at the end, that’s something we talked about as a team,” Robertson added. “We’ve been in these situations, and we know how to handle them. That’s one thing that we were focusing on in every timeout.
“It’s just understanding that we’ve been here, and we’re not going to panic. Yeah, we’re down, but we’ve been in this situation.”
UTC topped 50 percent from the field (51.1%) and 3pt range (50.0%) for the second straight contest. It leads the SoCon in both categories at 47.5 and 39.5 percent, respectively.
The Mocs are slated to meet VMI Saturday in Lexington, Va. Game time is 1 p.m. The contest airs on ESPN3 and on the Mocs Sports Network through 96.1 the Legend FM in Chattanooga.