Jake Stephens scored 26 points, and for the second consecutive game the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga flipped the script after a poor first half on defense, holding Gardner-Webb to 27% shooting in the final 20 minutes to pull away for an 82-71 victory Saturday in Boiling Springs, North Carolina.
The Mocs (5-3), who have won three straight games, return home for the next two, facing Milwaukee at 7 p.m. Tuesday and NAIA member Johnson University next Saturday at noon.
The Bulldogs (2-6) shot 59% from the field in the first half yet led just 39-38 at the break after the Mocs made seven 3-pointers. UTC used a 22-8 spurt midway through the second half to build an 11-point lead, then stretched it to 12 on two occasions, the last on a free throw by Chattanooga native Randy Brady that made it 80-68 with 32 seconds remaining.
DQ Nicholas and Julien Soumaoro each scored 14 points for the Bulldogs, who shot just 9-of-33 in the final 20 minutes — which was similar to the Mocs’ second half at Tennessee Tech on Wednesday, when the Golden Eagles were limited to 11 makes on 35 attempts. Combined, that’s a 29% shooting percentage in the second half against an improving UTC defense.
“I don’t know how large the sample size is. I would like to say that I’d like to take away the first half where we struggled defensively,” UTC coach Dan Earl said. “I do know against Tennessee Tech, I just didn’t think we had the right frame of mind going into the first half to start the game. This game wasn’t as bad; they seem to be just making shots, but it’s good that we have responded in the second half.
“I can’t put my finger on it exactly why that’s happened the last two times out, but it’s good that we’ve responded. We’ve certainly made shots in the second half, which helps everything as well. But defensively, we’re much better.”
Stephens also had nine rebounds and five blocks, point guard Dalvin White added 12 points and five assists, Chattanooga native Jamaal Walker came off the bench to score 10 and Brady and Demetrius Davis had eight each. The Mocs hit 12 3s, their third consecutive game with at least 10 and their fourth in the past five.
“We’ve had a lot of guys step up and fill roles when they’re asked to,” Stephens said. “This team is going to be one where if one person is struggling, we’re going to ask the next person to step up and play big minutes. We’re going to try to be the best team we can be and keep bringing it every day and getting better.”
Compiled by Gene Henley. Contact him at ghenley@timesfreepress.com.