Tre’ McLean’s 23 points and nine rebounds led the Chattanooga Mocs to an 82-78 triumph over Samford in Southern Conference action Saturday evening. The Mocs jumped out to a large first half lead before holding on in the end.
The advantage was as much as 18 in the opening 20 minutes for the home squad.
It was 10, 72-62, with
4:37 to go after a four-point play from McLean following a foul and technical on the Bulldogs. The visitors chipped away at the advantage.
Greg Pryor’s free throws with 1:18 remaining made is a 76-69 Mocs lead. Four straight missed free throws were offset by layups from Wyatt Walker and Demetrius Denzel-Dyson with the latter shaving the margin to three, 76-73 inside 37 seconds.
Casey Jones responded with two made free throws after the Mocs got the ball into the frontcourt. Josh Sharkey motored down the court scoring on a layup with 22.9 to play. On the inbounds play, McLean was fouled immediately by Denzel-Dyson. He knocked down both attempts for a five-point lead.
Denzel-Dyson kept the pressure on with a 3pt with 6.2 ticks left after a McLean block defending Sharkey. McLean was fouled quickly again. He made one of two for a three-point advantage as Samford pushed the ball up the floor. Christen Cunningham found Triston Chambers in the right corner, but the freshman saw the ball go through his hands turning the ball over with less than three seconds to go.
Johnathan Burroughs-Cook’s free throw made it a four-point win as Cunningham’s mid-court heave bounced off the rim at the buzzer.
Justin Tuoyo and Jones joined McLean in double figures with 13 and 12, respectively. Makale Foreman added nine points making three-of-five from 3pt range.
Denzel-Dyson posted 22 points and 10 boards. Cunningham had 12 points and six assists, while Sharkey matched his 12 in reserve adding four steals. Chambers chipped in 11.