Box Score Wofford-Chattanooga Box (pdf)
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Wofford College men’s basketball team used a strong second half to win 69-66 over Chattanooga on Thursday night at McKenzie Arena. Noah Dahlman led the Terriers with a career-high 24 points.
Wofford is 5-6 overall and 1-1 in the conference, while Chattanooga is 4-10 overall and 0-3 in SoCon play. The Terriers were led by Noah Dahlman with 24 points and ten rebounds. Jason Dawson and Tim Johnson each added eleven points. Chattanooga was led by Kevin Goffney with 19 points. Current SoCon Player of the Week Stephen McDowell was held to just three points.
“I wish we had not been down by ten at the half, but we were in great shape,” said head coach Mike Young. “I thought we guarded them well in the first half, they just made three’s that they had not made all year. We cut the lead to six at the first media timeout and away we went. We played with great effort and played as hard as any team as I have ever been around. This is not an easy place to come and win and they have a quality team. This is a feather in our kids hats.”
The Terriers opened with a three by Jason Dawson, which was answered by Nicchaeus Doaks. Tim Johnson gave the Terriers a 5-3 lead, but Kevin Goffrey score five straight points for the Mocs to take an 8-5 lead at 15:25. The score was tied at 11-11 at the 11:34 mark after a hoop and free throw by Drew Crowell. The Terriers took a 16-14 lead after a bucket and free throw by Noah Dahlman at 9:25.
Chattanooga then went on a 6-0 run to take a 20-16 lead at the 8:32 mark. Wofford was able to pull within one point at 23-22 after two free throws by Noah Dahlman at 5:31. After the score was 28-25, the Mocs went on a 12-2 run to take a 40-27 lead with 1:51 left in the half. The Terriers scored the next five points, including a three by Kevin Giltner for a 40-32 score. Nicchaeus Doaks hit a bucket with two seconds on the clock to take a42-32 lead at the half.
To open the second half, Wofford scored the first four points to cut the lead to 42-36 at 18:51. Following a three pointer by Corey Godzinski and a basket by Noah Dahlman, the Mocs lead was cut to just one point at 46-45 with 12:37 left in the second half. Wofford then took the lead with free throws by Noah Dahlman at 47-46 at 11:21. The Mocs responded with back-to-back threes to end the 16-4 run by the Terriers and regain the lead at 53-51 with 8:02 on the clock.
A three pointer by Jason Dawson gave Wofford a 59-57 lead with 4:55 remaining in the second half. Noah Dahlman then hit a two for four point advantage. Kevin Goffney hit a jumper for Chattanooga with 2:10 on the clock for a 61-59 score. Jason Dawson hit a three from the far corner to extend the Terriers lead. Brad Loesing added two free throws at 1:01 to take a 66-61 lead.
The Mocs then hit a jumper and a free throw by Kevin Goffney with 52 seconds left to cut the Terriers lead to 66-64. Jason Dawson added two free throws with 33 on the clock, but the Mocs added a basket by Khalil Hartwell with 26 seconds to make it a two point game. Corey Godzinski added a free throw with 17 seconds remaining, and then the Mocs turned the ball over with two seconds left to give Wofford the 69-66 win.
Wofford shot 38.6% from the floor and 31.8% from three. The Terriers were 72.0% from the line. The Mocs shot 43.1% from the floor and 42.9% from behind the arc. Chattanooga was 68.4% from the free throw line. Wofford had a 37-34 lead on the boards.
Wofford was without guard Junior Salters, who missed the contest due to injury. Noah Dahlman has scored in double-figures in the last ten games. Wofford has only been out-rebounded in one game this season (at Clemson). The win was the first for Wofford at Chattanooga since Feb. 10, 2003.
The Terriers will continue conference road action on Saturday afternoon at Samford, the last of four road games in eight days. Samford defeated Furman 71-60 on Thursday night. Wofford returns home on January 15 against College of Charleston at 7:00 pm.
