The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men’s basketball team shot 61% from the field in the second half and pulled away to defeat North Alabama 71-57 on Saturday at McKenzie Arena, the second and final game for UTC in this year’s ASUN/SoCon Challenge.
The Mocs — who are the reigning Southern Conference regular-season champions — improved to 3-3 overall and finished 1-1 in the two-game event, having fallen 91-73 to Atlantic Sun Conference member Florida Gulf Coast a week earlier in Fort Myers. They’re home for the next four games, including a multiteam event at McKenzie next weekend, when Tennessee State of the Ohio Valley Conference and NAIA member Tennessee Wesleyan from nearby Athens are coming to Chattanooga.
Billy Smith had 18 points to lead the Mocs, who were pretty balanced in their scoring Saturday as Sebastian Hartmann added 11 points, Tate Darner had 10 and four other UTC players scored from five to eight.
The Lions (2-4) were led by 18 points from Kevin de Kovachich, who shot 6-for-7 from the field — he made his lone attempt from 3-point range — and made all but one of his six free throws.
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ UTC’s Sebastian Hartmann (2) takes the ball before North Alabama’s Donte Bacchus (1) can reach it at McKenzie Arena on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ North Alabama’s Corneilous Williams (2) dunks the ball at McKenzie Arena on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ UTC’s Jordan Frison (5) holds in his excitement after making a basket in a game against North Alabama at McKenzie Arena on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ UTC’s Jordan Frison (5) makes a pass during a game against North Alabama at McKenzie Arena on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ North Alabama’s Cortez Graham-Howard (12) and Corneilous Williams (2) jump into the air to block UTC’s Sebastian Hartmann (2) from making the basket at McKenzie Arena on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ UTC’s Brennan Watkins (1) takes a shot for the basket in a game against North Alabama at McKenzie Arena on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ UTC’s Jordan Frison (5) and North Alabama’s Dallas Howell (34) struggle for control of the ball at McKenzie Arena on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ North Alabama’s Corneilous Williams (2) makes the basket before UTC’s Collin Mulholland (21) can reach him at McKenzie Arena on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ UTC’s Makai Richards (34) jumps into the air to block North Alabama’s Kevin De Kovachich (8) at McKenzie Arena on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ UTC’s Jordan Frison (5) travels up to the basket while North Alabama’s Corneilous Williams (2) tries to catch him at McKenzie Arena on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ North Alabama’s Corneilous Williams (2) catches the ball midair keeping it from UTC’s control at McKenzie Arena on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ UTC’s Tate Darner (0) launches up into the air while North Alabama’s Corneilous Williams (2) and Cortez Graham-Howard (12) chase after him at McKenzie Arena on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ UTC’s Jordan Frison (5) makes his away across the court while holding North Alabama’s Canin Jefferson (4) at bay in McKenzie Arena on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ North Alabama’s Cortez Graham-Howard (12) tries to block UTC’s Makai Richards (34) as Jordan Frison (5) runs to assist Richards at McKenzie Arena on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ North Alabama’s Dallas Howell (34) tries to block UTC’s Sebastian Hartmann (2) at McKenzie Arena on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ UTC’s Billy Smith (11) keeps the ball from North Alabama’s Kevin de Kovachich (8) at McKenzie Arena on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.
