UTC will face Loyola Chicago, which is headed back to the NIT Semifinals for the first time since 1962, on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. CT at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The game can be watched on ESPN2 with Mike Corey (PXP) and Fran Fraschilla (Analyst).
The Mocs came from behind to knock off Bradley, while the Ramblers beat Kent State to advance in the NIT.
Loyola's win over Kent State marked win No. 17 at home this season. It is the most home wins in a single season for the Ramblers. Loyola had 16 back in the 1965-66 season, and this is the first season above 15 since then.
Miles Rubin led Loyola with 18 points and nine boards in the win. He was 8-9 from the field, bumping his season field goal percentage to 70.4 percent on the year. Rubin added two blocks in the game, moving his season total to 84. He broke the single-season record with his 77th of the year, which he set in his freshman campaign with 76 in 2023-24.
Rubin sits sixth in total blocks (84), ninth in block percentage (11.8), and 13th in blocks per game (2.3) for the nation.
Loyola handed San Francisco its first loss on its home court last week in the second round match-up, 77-76. The Ramblers were led by Dawson who exploded for a 35-point career-high performance.
This marked Dawson's sixth game with at least 20 points this season and first ever career game eclipsing 30. He's the first Rambler since the 2018-19 season to score 30+.
Head coach Drew Valentine is in his fourth season at the helm. He has compiled a 83-50 overall record as head coach.
Chattanooga enters the semifinal at 27-9 overall, picking up wins over Middle Tennessee State, Dayton, and Bradley. The Mocs went 15-3 in the Southern Conference, winning the regular season title. Furman upset Chattanooga in the conference semifinal, 80-77. The Mocs rank seventh in th NCAA in assist to turnover ratio (1.67) and fall in the NCAA top-30 in assists per game (17.0), effective field goal percentage (.564), and field goal percentage (.481).
Helping the team to its 1.67 assist to turnover ratio is Garrison Keeslar. He leads the country at 5.40. He's averaging 4.5 assists per game. Honor Huff leads the Mocs in scoring, averaging 15.3 points per game. He's scored double-figures in 14 of the last 15 games, including six games with 20+. Huff had 26 against Dayton and 21 at Bradley.
Dan Earl is in his third season leadings the Mocs. He has a 66-38 record with the team.