The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's basketball team won its fourth consecutive contest Tuesday, jumping out to a 23-point halftime lead before holding on for an 88-76 win over Milwaukee at McKenzie Arena.
The Mocs (6-3) host NAIA member Johnson University Saturday at noon.
Jake Stephens scored 15 of his season-high 31 points and had nine rebounds and four assists in the first 20 minutes, while Demetrius Davis had 14 points and made four 3-pointers in helping the Mocs to a 44-21 halftime advantage. The Mocs dominated the first half of the game, turning 12 Milwaukee turnovers into 20 points.
The Panthers battled back with a three-point barrage in the second half, making 10 3s to cut into the deficit, but the Mocs never let the game get into single digits.
Davis finished with 19 points, while guard Khristion Courseault added 11 points and three assists in his first action since the season opener against College of Charleston. Jamal Johnson chipped in 10.
The Mocs played the game without point guard Dalvin White, who was out with an injury. Freshman Brody Robinson started in his place and had six points and six assists with just three turnovers, helping guide an attack that gave the ball away just eight times against the visitors' pressure defense.
"We're trying to string a full game together, two halves," UTC head coach Dan Earl said. "This was kind of the opposite of some other games, where we played outstanding in the first half and then not as good in the second, and we've played good second halves before.
"Hopefully, if we string together 40 minutes, we'll be continuing to improve."
The Mocs turned 13 offensive rebounds into 19 second-chance points, 15 Panther turnovers into 24 points and had 34 points in the paint to Milwaukee's 28.
"I feel we're coming together as a team, especially defensively," Davis said. "We're getting better, talking, boxing out and helping each other out. We're looking out for each other and I feel like we're getting better as a team."
Compiled by Gene Henley. Contact him at ghenley@timesfreepress.com.