Box Score Box Score
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Wofford College men’s basketball team was defeated 82-76 by Chattanooga on Saturday night at McKenzie Arena. The Mocs had an early 13-point lead, but the Terriers gained the lead in the second half briefly. Wofford pulled within four with under a minute to go, but free throw shooting gave the Mocs the win down the stretch.
Wofford is 14-14 overall and 7-11 in SoCon play. Chattanooga is 17-11overall and 12-6 in conference play. Wofford was led by Drew Gibson with a career-high 25 points and Junior Salters with 23 points. Noah Dahlman led Wofford with eight rebounds. The Mocs were led by Stephen McDowell and Khalil Hartwell with 19 each. Nicchaeus Doaks had nine rebounds.
The Mocs got off to a great start, taking an 8-0 just two minutes into the game. The Chattanooga lead was quickly up to 13 points at 15-2 before a free throw by Noah Dahlman and a basket by Junior Salters made it a ten point lead for the Mocs. A three pointer by Stephen McDowell built the lead back to 13 points.
Wofford went on an 11-3 run, which included three-pointers by Drew Gibson, Shane Nichols and Junior Salters to cut the lead to only two points at 24-22 at 8:42. Chattanooga then scored the next four points, but after a three-pointer and basket by Drew Gibson, the Terriers were within one point at 28027 with 5:52 on the clock.
Chattanooga extended the lead to seven points, but with under two minutes to go Wofford was within three at 36-33 after a basket by Shane Nichols. In the last minute, Junior Salters hit a three, but it was matched by a bucket from Khalil Hartwell and the Mocs took a 40-46 lead into the half.
In the second half, Noah Dahlman hit the first two shots for the Terriers to pull within two points at 42-40. Wofford took the lead for the first time in the game at 15:32 when a three-pointer by Junior Salters made it 46-45. Wofford kept a one-point lead for the next couple possessions, then Stephen McDowell tied it at 52-52 with a three-pointer. The game was tied again at 54, but the Mocs took a two-point lead at 56-54.
Wofford answered with a three by Drew Gibson to retake the lead at 57-54. Four straight points by the Mocs gave them a 58-57 lead at 8:45 in the second half. Chattanooga gradually pushed the lead to eight points at 71-63 with under four minutes on the clock. The Terriers pulled within five points with 1:06 on the clock, but four straight free throws by the Mocs made it a nine point game at 78-69.
The Terriers were not done, hitting a three by Junior Salters and then a lay-up by Noah Dahlman off a steal to make it 78-74 with 18 seconds left. The Mocs hit a free throw, which was followed by a basket from Drew Gibson with eight seconds left and a 79-76 game. Chattanooga hit three-of-four from the foul line in the last seven seconds to close out the game at 82-76.
The Wofford shot 43.9% from the floor and 32.1% from three. The Terriers were 65.4% from the line. The Mocs were 53.86% from the floor and 35.0% from behind the arc and 59.4% from the free throw line. Wofford had a 37-32 edge on the boards.
Drew Gibson scored a career-high 25 points in the game, including 10-of-12 from the free throw line. The Terriers have now dropped their last five conference games. Wofford had two players score 20 or more points (Gibson and Salters) for the first time since January 8, 2007 at Georgia Southern (Marshall and Nichols).
For Wofford, center/forward Tyler Whatley has taken a leave of absence from the team and did not make the trip. Chattanooga’s Stephen McDowell hit four three-pointers in the first half. Chattanooga had five players score in double-figures. Terry Martin fouled out of the game for Wofford.
The Terriers will complete the three-game road trip at Western Carolina on February 28. Wofford returns home for the final regular season game on March 1 against The Citadel. The Southern Conference Tournament begins on March 7 in Charleston.
