UTC Men's Basketball Defeats Loyola Marymount In Season Opener, 75-64

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --- Graduate David Jean-Baptiste scored a game-high 26 points while sophomore Malachi Smith added 21 during a season-opening 75-64 win over Loyola Marymount on the road in Los Angeles, California on Tuesday night inside a raucous Gersten Pavilion.
 
Jean-Baptiste and Smith become the first duo to post 20 or more points in a season opener since 2016.

Chattanooga extends its non-conference winning streak to a program best 13 games following the win.
 
"I am really happy for these guys. This is as excited as I have been this early in the season," said head coach Lamont Paris.
 
"It's just about winning the game, but how the guys responded, and how they've enjoyed this trip. It has been an awesome trip and I love coaching this team, honestly."
 
In much of a back-and-forth affair, Chattanooga withstood five LMU three-pointers in the opening half despite finding the bottom of the net just twice (2-for-9, 22.2%) in the opening frame. The Lions led by as much as four, 26-22, before a Silvio De Sousa free throw and Jean-Baptiste three-ball tied the game at 26.The Mocs would take a brief 30-28 lead before the half on a Malachi Smith driving layup, but the home team scored seven of the final 10 points to take a 35-33 lead at the break.
 
It was all Chattanooga to open the second half. After falling behind 42-38, the team from the Scenic City went on a 10-0 run highlighted by four points from Josh Ayeni and six from Smith to race ahead 48-42 and force a timeout from the hosts.
 
The lead would not relinquish. LMU cut things to as close as two at 61-59 with 1:43 left in the game, but Jean-Baptiste nailed his fifth three of the game to put the Mocs up 64-59 with 1:24 on the clock. Darius Banks came up with a steal on the ensuing LMU possession and slammed home a breakaway dunk to make it 66-59, eventually leading to a 75-64 final.
 
RECORDS – Chattanooga (1-0) – Loyola Marymount (0-1)
 
SERIES – Chattanooga leads the all-time series 1-0. It marked the first meeting between the two schools.
 
NOTES TO KNOW
- 26 points for David Jean-Baptiste...most points in an opener since Ashley Champion's 30-point effort on Nov. 22, 2002 in a 68-66 triumph at Samford…10th career 20pt night…5-9 from 3pt range, his 31st game with three or more treys…67th game with 10 or more points.
- 21 points by Malachi Smith…game-high four assists…9-11 from the FT line…7th 20-point night and 31st in double figures.
- 26 points for David Jean-Baptiste and 21 by Malachi Smith mark the first 20-point efforts in an opener since the duo of Justin Tuoyo '16 & Tre McLean '16 had 22 and 21, respectively, in the 82-69 Nov. 11, 2016 win at Tennessee…both had double-doubles with 11 boards by Tuoyo and 10 for McLean…Jean-Baptiste was a redshirting freshman on that squad…more on Jean-Baptiste's and Smith's nights below.
 
Check out all the notes at the link above.

QUOTABLE
"Our league is good. We had an older team that we could try and challenge. This is a challenging schedule and this team is going to win a lot of games. We knew this would be a big test and we are preparing ourselves game by game and test by test to get ready for the Southern Conference." – Lamont Paris on the first road test being a challenging one.

"It has to be top five. It's hard to compete with the play against UNCG in the semifinal game a few years back. It's good to know that my teammates and coaches have confidence in me to make open shots. That's just one of those ones, I was open, I had my feet under me and I just let it rip." - David Jean-Baptiste comparing the three-pointer to other big moments in his UTC career.
 
UP NEXT – Chattanooga vs. UNC Asheville – Sun., Nov. 14 – 2 PM ET – 2021-22 Schedule
 
SOCON SCOREBOARD
The Citadel 78, at Pittsburgh 63
at UNCG 57, North Carolina A&T 53
at Wofford 117, Bobby Jones 79
at VMI 111, Carlow 55
at Furman 118, North Greenville 66
at #16 Arkansas 74, Mercer 61
at Western Carolina 79, Bowling Green 71 (OT)
at Samford 99, Maryville (TN) 78