BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men’s basketball team claimed an 82-76 win over Samford at the Pete Hanna Center in Birmingham, Ala.
By virtue of The Citadel’s 66-60 win over Wofford, the Mocs (12-7, 5-1) moved into a first-place tie with Mercer for the early lead in the conference. Wofford sits 4-1 after the loss.
The Mocs never led in the first half, trailing by double digits for parts, but cut the lead to 33-30 at the break. They battled foul trouble in the second half, but finally took the lead on a basket by Chuck Ester with 12:46 to play that gave the team a 47-46 lead.
The Bulldogs (7-13, 0-7) would tie the game at 54, but the Mocs would answer with a 15-3 run, led by five points each by Martynas Bareika and Tre McLean, and the lead never dipped below four the rest of the way.
Justin Tuoyo, who fouled out in the final minute, finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Ronrico White matched Tuoyo’s point total while adding four assists.
Bareika and Casey Jones added 12 points each, while Ester had his best game of the season with 10 points, two rebounds and two assists before fouling out.
Samford finished 26-for-42 from the free-throw line. They were led by Darius Jones-Gibson’s 24 points, while Evan Taylor and Brandon Roberts had 13 each. Former Tyner standout had six points and five rebounds for the Bulldogs.
The Mocs next play again on on Thursday, when they host Virginia Military Institute.
For full story, read Friday’s Times Free Press.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.