The UTC Mocs struggled with defense in the first half over their previous two games but that was not the case on Tuesday as they stifled the Milwaukee Panthers throughout the game getting into the passing lanes, finishing at the rim, hitting their outside shots, and rebounding the basketball as they defeated the Panthers 88-76.
Outside of a couple of the lesser teams, Chattanooga has played this season this was the most complete game they’ve played all season, dominating start to finish in this one against a good team from Milwaukee. With the win, UTC improves to 6-3 on the season and they’ve now won their fourth game in a row.
Demetrius Davis was the story in the first half as he went 4-5 from downtown (three in a row at one point) to give the Mocs a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Davis finished the game with 19 points and two steals.
DD22! HEAT CHECK!
@ESPNPlus
https://t.co/5SQMeOMy2m@_demetriusdavis x #GoMocs pic.twitter.com/R421tGjvxO
— Chattanooga Basketball (@GoMocsMBB) December 7, 2022
Jake Stephens also impressed in this one as he has all season long since following his former coach at VMI, Dan Earl, here to UTC as he’s earned three straight SoCon Player of the Week awards and after his 31 points, 13 rebounds, three blocks, and four assists tonight he could very well be on his way to more hardware.
Jake Stephens with 29 & 13. There's still five minutes left.@ESPNPlus
https://t.co/5SQMeOMy2m@jakestephens0 x #GoMocs pic.twitter.com/O7grhQswaF
— Chattanooga Basketball (@GoMocsMBB) December 7, 2022
Milwaukee trailed by 23 at the half and came out of the halftime locker room pressuring the Mocs for most of the second half and it worked for spurts as they were able to also get hot from three with Zach Howell hitting a couple of threes to cut the Chattanooga lead down to 11 at one point late.
The ball movement was exceptional tonight for UTC as a team they dished out 16 assists, they were constantly crashing the glass as a team with 35 rebounds, finished at the rim, and shot the ball well from the outside hitting 13 threes.
Guard Brody Robinson’s night won’t stand out to you on the stat sheet but if you watched this game his energy was infectious, he was all over the court and was a calming influence for the offense when the ball was in his hands. He finished with six points, six assists, and two steals.
Chattanooga will put its four-game winning streak on the line against Johnson University (TN) on Saturday at noon from McKenzie Arena.