Chattanooga defeats Samford 88-79
Chattanooga Shoots Down Samford 88-79 in Thrilling Conference Showdown
In a matchup that promised to be a battle of wills, the Chattanooga Mocs came out on top, defeating visiting Samford 88-79 at McKenzie Arena.
The story of the game was clear from the opening tip-off: this was a conference showdown between two teams with high stakes. The Chattanooga home court crowd was electric, and the Mocs made sure to capitalize on that energy early on. By halftime, Chattanooga had built a commanding 49-28 lead, setting the tone for what would be a dominant second half.
Chattanooga's Jordan Frison led the charge in the first half, pouring in 16 points on 2-2 three-point shooting and 54.5% field goal efficiency. Teddy Washington Jr. chipped in with 12 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals to help Chattanooga control the pace of play.
In the second half, Samford made a valiant effort to mount a comeback. Dylan Faulkner led the way for the Bulldogs, scoring 24 points on an impressive 80% shooting performance from the field. However, despite his best efforts, Samford couldn't overcome the deficit and trail by as many as nine at one point.
As the clock ticked down, Chattanooga's defense stiffened, and Samford struggled to find its rhythm. The Mocs' offense, meanwhile, continued to click on all cylinders, with Frison adding six more points in the second half to seal the win.
The final margin of 9 points was a testament to Chattanooga's superior performance, but it could have been even worse for the visitors. Samford's inability to contain Chattanooga's fast break and transition offense ultimately proved to be its undoing.
In terms of advanced statistics, Chattanooga's efficiency on both ends of the floor was impressive. The Mocs shot 54.1% from field goal range and committed just four turnovers, while forcing eight from Samford. Meanwhile, Samford struggled with three-point shooting, going just 32.0% from beyond the arc.
The win puts Chattanooga in a strong position within the conference standings, and it cements Jordan Frison's status as one of the top players on the team. For Samford, the loss is a tough pill to swallow, but it serves as a wake-up call for the Bulldogs as they look to regroup and refocus.
The stage is now set for Chattanooga to take on another conference opponent next week. With their strong performance against Samford, the Mocs are primed to make some noise in the league standings.