UTC men claw way to first SoCon win after 0-3 start to league play

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / UTC's Jordan Frison shoots as Samford's Cade Norris defends during a SoCon game Saturday at McKenzie Arena. Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / UTC's Jordan Frison shoots as Samford's Cade Norris defends during a SoCon game Saturday at McKenzie Arena.

By Gene Henley January 10, 2026 5 min read

Playing like a desperate basketball team, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men halted their three-game losing streak to start Southern Conference play with an 88-79 win against Samford on Saturday at McKenzie Arena.

The Mocs, who improved to 7-10 overall, avoided being the only team in the SoCon without a league victory — and steered clear of what would have been their sixth loss in seven games dating to nonconference play — by hanging on for the hard-fought win against the Bulldogs (9-8, 2-2).

UTC led by as many as 28 points before heading into halftime up 49-28, but the visitors made a second-half charge and closed within four points inside of the two-minute mark before a 3-pointer by Jordan Frison and some free throws down the stretch closed out the victory for the Mocs.

UTC had opened league play by losing 77-72 at Furman on Jan. 1, 79-71 at Virginia Military Institute two days later, and 78-67 on Wednesday at McKenzie.

UTC vs. Samford men’s basketball on Jan. 10, 2026

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ UTC head coach Dan Earl coaches his players during their game in McKenzie Arena on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026.

“One of the things I said in the locker room was that we have to compete at all times,” said UTC fourth-year head coach Dan Earl, who had to rebuild his roster after last year’s run to a first-place finish in the SoCon standings and the National Invitation Tournament title, then dealt with multiple injuries this season.