From Drought to Downpour: Paladins’ Second Half Surge Falls Short Against Soaring Mocs
The Chattanooga Mocs soared to victory tonight, leaving the Furman Paladins grounded in defeat with a decisive 73-58 win. Both teams were desperate for their first SoCon win, but it was the Mocs who found their wings, while the Paladins were clipped by a barrage of three-pointers and suffocating defense.
First Half Fireworks:
The Mocs exploded out of the gates, raining fire from downtown with a blistering 5-of-6 performance from beyond the arc in the first half. Meanwhile, the Paladins’ offense sputtered, coughing up bricks with a dismal 1-of-14 shooting clip in the opening frame. This offensive chasm translated into a 20-12 Mocs lead early on, and it only widened as Furman continued their cold spell, going a staggering 11 minutes without a made field goal. The Mocs capitalized on the Paladins’ offensive woes, racking up 16 fast-break points in the first half, fueled by their sharp shooting and Furman’s defensive lapses. By halftime, the scoreboard displayed a lopsided 43-20 advantage for Chattanooga, with Trey Boham leading all scorers with a perfect 10-point effort from the field.
Second Half Scuffle:
The Paladins emerged from the locker room with renewed determination, employing a strong half-court set that culminated in an easy dunk. This sparked a 10-0 run fueled by JP Pegues’ driving layup and Alex Williams’ thunderous steal-and-slam. The Mocs, however, weathered the storm, relying on efficient shot selection despite struggling from three in the second half (1-of-8). Furman never quite managed to crack the code, only getting as close as 12 points with three minutes remaining. The Mocs extinguished any remaining hope with a decisive 6-0 run in the final 2:04, sealing the 73-58 victory.
Balanced Attack Paves the Way:
The Moc’s triumph was a testament to their balanced scoring attack, with five players reaching double digits. Tyler Millin led the charge with 16 points, while Sam Alexis notched a monster double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds. The Paladins, on the other hand, were led by JP Pegues double-double (16 points, 11 rebounds) and Alex Williams’ 15 points, but their early shooting woes proved insurmountable.
Looking Ahead:
This loss extends Furman’s losing streak to three games and drops them to 0-2 in the SoCon. They’ll look to bounce back on their home court on January 10th against the Citadel, hoping to find their shooting touch and secure their first conference win. As for the Mocs, they’ll aim to build on this momentum and climb the SoCon ladder, riding the confidence of their potent offense and suffocating defense.
This game was a tale of two halves, with the Mocs’ first-half fireworks contrasting sharply with the Paladins’ offensive drought. The Mocs’ balanced attack and defensive tenacity proved too much for Furman, who will need to rediscover their shooting rhythm and shore up their defense if they hope to contend in the SoCon.
