Box Score Game box (pdf)
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Wofford men’s basketball team used a 19-1 run in the first half on the way to a 97-58 win over Chattanooga on Wednesday night at McKenzie Arena. The Terriers shot 58% for the game, including 70% in the second half, while limiting the Mocs to 35.0% shooting on the night.
Wofford is 17-12 on the season and 13-4 in the Southern Conference. Chattanooga is 15-15 overall and 11-6 in the conference. The Terriers were led by Noah Dahlman with 23 points and Cameron Rundles with 21 points. Tim Johnson had nine rebounds for Wofford as the Terriers dominated the glass 42 to 28. The Mocs were led by Chris Early with 13 points, all in the second half.
“We played well and won,” said Wofford head coach Mike Young. “The Mocs played really well two nights ago against a good Furman team and outplayed them in all facets. We knew we were going to have to come in here and put forty minutes together. We did that and more. It was one of those games that everybody had great energy and it was a great team night. We will take it and move on.”
The Mocs scored first, but the Terriers had an early 5-4 lead after a three by Jamar Diggs less than two minutes into play. After the Mocs took a 9-8 lead, Wofford went on an 8-0 run the included threes from Kevin Giltner and Cameron Rundles for a 16-9 advantage with 14:07 on the clock. After Chattanooga made one free throw, the Terriers would go on an 11-0 run as they took a 27-10 lead with nine minutes left in the half.
Chattanooga scored the next four points to make it a 27-14 game, but the Terriers answered with the next eight points to take a 35-14 lead with 5:38 on the clock. Wofford kept up the scoring and took a 45-21 lead at the half. Noah Dahlman had 17 points at the break as the team shot 48.5% from the floor and held the Mocs to just 26.7% shooting in the half.
To open the second half, the Mocs scored first and cut the lead to 47-26 at 18:51. But Wofford answered with two three pointers by Cameron Rundles and one by Brad Loesing for a 56-28 lead with 17:23 on the clock and the Mocs called a timeout. After the timeout, Chattanooga scored the next five points. However a three by Brad Loesing at 15:30 kept the lead at 61-35.
The Terriers extended the lead to 68-37 on a fast break after a turnover with a lay-up by Kevin Giltner at 13:52. Nathan Parker added a three at the 12:42 mark for a 71-39 lead for Wofford. With 3:04 left and a 91-56 lead after two buckets by Drew Crowell, the Terriers emptied the bench. Matt Steelman hit a three with a minute left and Aerris Smith had a lay-up for the 97-58 final score.
Wofford shot 58.3% from the floor and was 52.2% from three. From the free throw line, the Terriers were 71.4%. Chattanooga was 35.0% overall and was 25.0% from behind the arc. They were 57.1 % from the line. The Terriers had a 42-28 lead on the glass and had 21 assists to only nine turnovers.
The Terriers are now 8-0 against the SoCon North Division this season. The win over Chattanooga was only the third for Wofford at the McKenzie Arena since 1996. The loss on senior night was the first SoCon loss at home this season for the Mocs. The 97 points scored by the Terriers were the most this season and the 39-point margin was the largest the season.
Wofford will end the regular season at Furman on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. The Furman game is sold-out and will be broadcast on SportSouth. The winner of the game will earn the #2 seed and a bye in the upcoming Southern Conference Tournament. The loser will be the #3 seed and open play next Friday in Chattanooga.
