The urge to play basketball was still there for Joshua Phillips.
His college career in that sport started at Middle Tennessee State, where he played for three seasons, the final of which was the Blue Raiders' 2015-16 NCAA Sweet 16 team. He resumed his basketball career Saturday night with 14 points and seven rebounds in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's 95-60 win over NAIA member Tennessee Wesleyan at McKenzie Arena.
Phillips has just spent two seasons as a linebacker for the UTC football program, where he was part of 12 wins and a national playoff appearance.
But throughout that time, he still had a desire to play on the hardwood. He often was seen around the Chattem Practice Facility during practices or watching in McKenzie during games.
Given one last opportunity to play basketball, Phillips took advantage of it. And Saturday night the 6-foot-8, 230-pound senior forward was 7-for-10 from the floor in 20 minutes as the Mocs improved to 3-3.
"If I could end my career here any kind of way, it would have been playing basketball again," Phillips said. "I appreciate (basketball coach Lamont) Paris giving me the opportunity, and (football coach Tomo) Arth letting me come to the basketball team when the season was over. I appreciate both coaches and teammates that gave me chances to come be a part of the team and welcome me with open arms."
The Mocs play at Akron on Tuesday and will be home again Saturday when they and the women's program both face UT-Martin.
Phillips was one of six players scoring in double figures for UTC, led by David Jean-Baptiste with 18 points. James Lewis had 13 and a team-high eight rebounds before fouling out, while Nat Dixon and Duane Moss each scored 11 and Makale Foreman chipped in 10. Rodney Chatman had eight points and five assists, with no turnovers in 17 minutes. The Mocs hit 11 3s as a team, the fourth consecutive game in which they've had at least 10.
The Mocs played without 6-11 forward Makinde London, who missed with an upper-body injury. Paris said the coaches would have to see how London felt today before determining his status for Tuesday's game.
"He didn't feel like he was prepared to play the way he needed to and could use the time," Paris said. "It'll be day-to-day."
The Mocs started the first half slowly but caught fire on both ends midway through, finishing the half on a 23-4 run to break the game open. They shot 60 percent from the floor in the second half, as compared to 45 in the first, and built their lead to 45 points.
"We just had a hard time getting ourselves going early," Paris said. "I don't know what that was attributed to. I know we were up 20 at the half, but in the second half I felt we came out with that first group and played more like how we want to play. As I'm looking at it, as I feel it, I feel we were representing ourselves as what we want to be as a team better."
Johnson Decembre led the Bulldogs (3-7) with 14 points. Former East Hamilton standout Noah Fager hit a second-half 3-pointer, and Todd Lansden's putback dunk provided the final points of the game.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.