SoCon Fast Break insight...
@GoMocsMBB didn’t just snap a four-game
@SoConSports skid—they outdueled a Mercer squad breathing down the neck of first place, gutting out a win that proved heart can beat a box score.
On paper, Chattanooga should have lost this game ten times over. They allowed Mercer 16 offensive rebounds (to their own 3), committed 29 fouls leading to 43 Mercer free throws, and turned the ball over 17 times. As a former coach, I still look at this and ask, “How?” But this was a game where competitive grit overcame statistical deficits, proving that heart isn’t a measurable metric.
Even without starting for the first time all season, Jordan Frison (
@jfrison10) provided veteran leadership when it mattered most. With under a minute left and the game on the line, Frison stepped back and drained a cold-blooded three-pointer to give UTC a 76-70 cushion. It was the final blow in his gritty 11-point performance before he fouled out.
Local walk-on
@houstonholland8 was the offensive spark the Mocs desperately needed. In just his second career start, the former
@SBASeahawks star was a flamethrower from deep, going 4-of-5 from three for a career-high 12 points. His back-to-back triples in the first half kept Chattanooga within striking distance when Mercer threatened to pull away.
Coach Earl stuck with the lineup that sparked a near-comeback against Furman—Brennan Watkins (
@BNiceW23),
@TateDarner_, Teddy Washington Jr. (
@KidKyrie22), Holland, and Makai Richards. The gamble paid off as four of the five scored in double figures, led by Darner’s career-high 18 points. Darner also posted a team-best 16 rating, proving he was the steady hand through the chaos.
Mercer’s strategy was clear—dominate the interior and attack the rim. They made 33 free throws, the second-most by a Mocs opponent in program history. Though they went nearly 10 minutes without a field goal in the second half, living at the line kept them in it, with Baraka Okojie and Armani Mighty combining for 21 of those made FTs.
The Bears showed they’re a physical force, dominating the glass (34-25) and forcing turnovers. But shooting only 31% from the field (18-of-58) is a tactical issue they must fix—you can’t rely solely on the whistle to win on the road in the SoCon. Chattanooga revealed championship character that had been missing during their slide. By shooting 57.1% in the second half and going 6-of-8 from beyond the arc, they showed they can be lethal when they stop playing tentatively and start being the aggressor.
Next Up: February 7th, with Mercer traveling to Samford while Chattanooga hosts The Citadel.
📸:
@GoMocsMBB